Rockin' the Commons gala to benefit Roswell Park April 17; Event honors student battling leukemia

Food, music, and entertainment for all ages is planned for the seventh annual Rockin' the Commons celebration, a benefit for Roswell Park Cancer Institute held by SUNY Fredonia’s student-run Fredonia Radio Systems.

[UPDATE]: The Rockin' the Commons will be held Saturday, April 17, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Due to a rainy forecast for Saturday, the event has been moved to the Masonic Lodge at 321 E. Main St. in Fredonia, NY.

As an added component this year, Fredonia Radio chose to hold the event in honor of Nick Spawn, a SUNY Fredonia student who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia in December 2008.  As a result, all proceeds from this year’s event will be donated to Roswell Park specifically for the purpose of research and patient care of those diagnosed with this specific form of leukemia.

“Nick and his family have been so brave and patient in the ongoing fight against leukemia and they deserve all the support they can get,” said Katie Fuchs, general manager of Fredonia Radio Systems.  “I know a lot of people on this campus are pushing for his full health so he can get back into his normal routine.”

There will be live entertainment all day, a Chinese auction featuring donations from local and national organizations, a “Children’s Fest” hosted by SUNY Fredonia’s Teacher Education Club from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and a Chiavetta’s Chicken Barbeque at 4 p.m.

In addition, the Buster Brown Bean Company will sell an orange creamsicle drink at the event from 1:30 to 4 p.m., with a portion of the proceeds going directly to Spawn and his family. The drink, inspired by the orange “awareness color” of leukemia, is also being sold on campus until April 16 at the Gazebo Café in Fenton Hall, Three Corners Café in McEwen Hall, Upbeat Café in Mason Hall, and the Campus Grind in the Williams Center.

Performers at Rockin’ the Commons include SUNY Fredonia guitar professor Tom Gestwicki, the Fredonia Jazz Ensemble, Tim Corner and the Time Bombs, Pardi Gras, The Village Firewall Project, and many others.

The Chinese Auction items will be on display April 15 – 16, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., outside the Campus Grind. This will provide all campus and community members with an extra opportunity to purchase raffle tickets.

Tickets for the Chiavetta’s dinners are on sale in the SUNY Fredonia ticket office for $7 presale. Remaining tickets will be sold for $8 at the event. One dollar from each presale ticket and $2 from each day-of ticket will be donated to Roswell Park.

For more information about Rockin’ the Commons, visit the Fredonia Radio website or contact Katie Fuchs of Fredonia Radio Systems.