RED BANK – The Parker Family Health Center has announced that the intimate, sold-out benefit concert, performed in July by Jon Bon Jovi at the Count Basie Theatre, raised more than $200,000 in net proceeds.
The funds will ensure that the Parker Family Health Center can continue to provide free health care to uninsured families and individuals in the local area.
In addition to the much needed operating capital, the concert and Live Stream were instrumental in helping the center raise awareness for primary health care, disease prevention, health promotion, patient education and accessible medical facilities in the Monmouth County community.
“The Bon Jovi family has been good friends to the Parker Center since we opened in 2000,” said Gina Petillo, one of the center’s board members. “We are tremendously grateful for their continued support. The proceeds from the concert are vital to helping those in our area receive free primary health care.”
Indeed, it was a night when all came together to support an important mission. Among those in the crowd was Jonah Gold, a 16-year-old, die-hard Bon Jovi fan who suffers from Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that confines him to a wheelchair. In 2013, Jonah wrote to Bon Jovi, expressing his hope to someday meet the superstar.
His wish was granted when Bon Jovi arranged to meet the young man and invited him to attend the Count Basie show.
That act of kindness was more than “paid forward” by Jonah, who surprised everyone on show night with an $8,000 donation – funds he had raised with the help of family and friends. Jonah is now the youngest benefactor of the Parker Family Health Center.
For the performance, Bon Jovi was backed by local musicians Kings of Suburbia, including guitar favorite Bobby Bandiera, and a guest appearance by Southside Johnny. Net proceeds from the event directly benefit the center.
The Parker Family Health Center and Bon Jovi would like to extend their thanks to those who generously provided time and services to make this concert a success: The Count Basie Theatre, StageIt, TourGigs, Performance Environment Design Group (PEDG), Production Resource Group (PRG), Clair Brothers, Promptin’ Circumstance, all band members and show production staff and all local and venue staff.
Founded in 2000, The Parker Family Health Center is a volunteer-based clinic, providing primary health care free of charge to low-income, uninsured Monmouth County residents. Open six days a week, Parker logs more than 11,000 patient visits annually. Medical care at the center is provided by 250 volunteers who donate 10,000 hours of service annually.
Additional information about the Parker Family Health center is available by visiting www.parkerfamilyhealthcenter.org.
