GladSong benefits top $100K

The community inspirational singing group, GladSong, has helped charities raise more than $100,000 over the past three years in the greater Wenatchee area and has two more benefit concerts before its winter break.

GladSong began in 2021 and performs pop, country, jazz and gospel tunes. It helped raise $618 in a short 2021 season, $42,275 for 11 charitable organizations in the first full season of 2022 and, so far, $58,387 for seven charities this year. All concert proceeds go to the charity for which a concert is given.

“We love singing, touching people with positive messages and helping our community,” said Tim Meyer, director.  

GladSong’s next concert is 6 p.m. Oct. 22 at Eastmont Baptist Church to raise funds for Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child that provides Christmas gifts in shoeboxes to children around the world. Many local churches participate each year.

GladSong’s final 2023 concert is set for 6 p.m. Nov. 4 in the Wenatchee High School Commons to benefit the school’s Random Acts of Kindness club.

GladSong was the featured entertainment at annual fundraisers for Wenatchee’s Hope Care Clinic and Central Washington Safe Families in September. Each event raised about $22,000 from donations, sponsorships, silent auctions. Safe Families also from ticket sales.

“I would say about 40% was from sponorships for the event, like Cascade Auto Center, and 60% from our generous donor base,” said Ginny Kerstetter, executive director of Hope Care Clinic.

Proceeds go into the clinic’s $70,000 annual budget to provide medical, dental and behavioral health care for uninsured and the underinsured, she said.

About 120 people attended the 80-minute concert at Calvary Crossroads Church on Sept. 24.

“GladSong is awesome. The audience really loved it,” Kerstetter said.

The eight-month-old Safe Families is the local affiliate of a national organization providing alternatives to foster care.

“This was our launch celebraton dinner to raise money for expenses and get more people involved as volunteers,” said Sherry Mott, director.

The Sept. 9 event at Sage Hills Church drew 125 attendees at $40 per plate for $5,000, raised another $10,000 in donations and $5,000 from a silent auction. Sponsors included Town Toyota Center and Goodfellow Bros.

Among other concerts this year, GladSong helped raise $6,000 for Ohme Gardens on July 9 in the gardens, and more than $2,000 for a Leavenworth association providing weekend food for school children in need.