Toys for Tots, 2018 With Gerry and the Dreambenders At The Sapphire Room Is All About Helping Kids

December 3, 2018

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Toys for Tots, 2018 with Gerry and the Dreambenders is coming up and again promises to be a night of great music, comedy and holiday cheer for a very good cause. On Friday night, December 7, Gerry and the Dreambenders will hold their 7^thAnnual Toys for Tots 2018 Concert. Once again partnering with Boise’ Sapphire Room in the Riverside Hotel and the United States Marine Corps, admission to the event is either a new, unopened toy or a cash donation which the U.S. Marines will use for their long-running Toys for Tots program. The event has been held at the Sapphire Room for the last five years now. Stephanie Leavell, part of the management and ownership team at the Riverside Hotel, said “The Toys for Tots fundraiser with Gerry & The Dreambenders is one of my favorite ways that The Sapphire Room gives back to the community. We love supporting The Marine Toys for Tots Program through local, live music on the sparkling Sapphire stage.”

Gerry and the Dreambenders is well known in the Treasure Valley and beyond as the Northwest’s only Genuine British Invasion-Era Rock and Roll Tribute Show. Vocalist/Founder/Guitarist Mike Wallace has spearheaded this event since its inception. When asked why this event was important, he said, “’Cause some kids don’t got nothin! When I was a kid, I had some good Christmases where there were a lot of things; and I had some that were not quite so good. Compared to nothing, however, they were fantastic. It embarrasses me—it’s a strange combination of glad and embarrassed—that I can say I’ve never experienced not having something. I can’t imagine what that feels like, but I can come close; and it’s heart-wrenching. The only thing I can think of that might be worse is being the parent of that child and seeing that child staring at a Christmas tree with nothing under it”.

He continued, “For my kids, I’ve given them some pretty good Christmases and some that I was sad about that weren’t quite as good. But again, as disappointed and sad that I felt some of those times that I wasn’t able to give them much, there was still something there. Last year, we were able to put presents out for over 500 kids. This year, i’m shooting for 650-700. We’re not making a dime off of this—it’s not about making money—if I can walk away knowing that I’ve helped 500 kids, it feels good and maybe I’ve made up for some of those Christmases that I didn’t take care of my kids as well as I would have liked”.

Gerry and the Dreambenders consists of Mike Wallace (guitar, harp, vocals), Ken McAtee (lead guitar, vocals), Jack Hourcade (bass, vocals) and Lane Bune (drums, vocals). The band specializes in the music of the early to mid 60’s British Invasion-Era bands, such as the Hollies, the Rolling Stones, Gerry and the Pacemakers, the Beatles and the Kinks. Into this mix, they include American music from the same era from groups such as the Byrds, the Turtles and the Lovin’ Spoonful. Adding to that some tunes from a decade later from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and there will be a great mix of music to keep everyone entertained. Be sure to go to the Sapphire Room event page and reserve seats—they are going fast!

Mike, Shaun (Asst. Mgr.), Brian (Mgr.), Guitar Center

Emceeing Toys for Tots, 2018 with Gerry and the Dreambenders will be Pat Mac, local caterer/chef and comedian who has appeared on local TV and YouTube. There will be several gift raffle giveaways from event sponsors including the Triangle Inn in Black Canyon (dinner for 2); Flourpot Bakery (custom cake); and a 1 hour massage from a licensed masseuse. The evening will culminate with someone getting a beautiful stuffed dog named Lucky from Fred Meyer Jewelers. Lucky wears a lovely crystal snowman necklace around her neck. Finally, the Grand Prize will be a Fender Squier Stratocaster guitar donated by Guitar Center. In addition, someone has donated another Fender Squier Stratocaster which will be given directly to the Marines who will then turn it over to a worthy child.

The Sapphire Room is an integral part of the Toys for Tots fundraiser. Mike Wallace explained, “We had an event the first two years at another location and after the first 2 years were kind of ‘homeless’ and didn’t know where to hold it. I visited the Riverside Hotel and Sapphire Room with Lynda Johnson—-what a spectacular lady—it’s impossible to sit across the table from this lady and be angry about anything, she just gives off this aura of calm and peacefulness. She didn’t even hesitate and said ‘What date? We’ve got these dates open…..’. They gave us a home; and as far as I’m concerned, as long as I’m drawing a breath we’ll do it there every single year. So far its been a good partnership. It’s a great room—the best room in Idaho to listen to music; and the people who run it are the best people in Idaho to work with”.

Of course, the people who started the Toys for Tots program almost 50 years ago were the United States Marines. The Boise members of Charlie Company will be collecting the toy and cash donations at the door and seeing that it is distributed it to many needy children in the local area. This is one of many local and national events that the United States Marine Corps participates in. Last year’s show was great and this year’s show might be even better. With extra donations helped by the generous gifts from the sponsors, this year should be a very happy year for many kids in the Treasure Valley that might otherwise not be able to enjoy receiving a Christmas gift this year.