CEO Gary Reedy was invited by Emmy Award winner Richard Weitz and his daughter, Demi, to a unique virtual concert and chat series called #Quarantunes.
Richard, a Hollywood agent, began with an idea to make his daughter’s 17th birthday special amid the pandemic by getting some celebrity friends to sing to her. The idea quickly grew and morphed into a fundraiser for those in need during COVID-19. In the six weeks since its start, these Friday evening, invitation-only events have raised more than $2 million for charities.
Last Friday’s Quarantunes performance (May 8) raised $375,000 for the American Cancer Society, CDC Foundation, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, with about $79,000 coming to the ACS for our Hope Lodge COVID-19 Response Fund.
Part of the intrigue is the small guest list and the surprise nature of the artists. Last Friday’s performers included Luke Bryant, Shawn Colvin, Jeffrey Osborne, One Republic, Rita Wilson, and Darius Rucker, among others. Commentary about the songs from artists, songwriters, and legends like Clive Davis added to the appeal.
It was newly appointed Tennessee Area Board member, Dan Weisman, a former executive artist manager and friend of Richard Weitz, who brought the Tennessee Hope Lodge to Richard’s attention and suggested he include ACS in the event.
Dan spent over a decade as an entrepreneur and trusted advisor in the music industry, moving to Nashville in 2016 to open a Roc Nation office in Music City. In 2019, he was recruited as the first hire in AllianceBernstein’s newest private wealth office in their new global headquarters in Nashville. Since then he has hit his stride philanthropically.
Dan said, “Time is our most valuable asset, and as I’ve grown and matured, I have tried to be more intentional as to what causes I dedicate my time. My grandmother, uncle, and wife have all been affected by cancer, and I’ve lost friends to cancer, so when asked if I wanted to get involved, it seemed like the right time. Bringing my relationships from the entertainment business to help ACS, specifically in Nashville, is the least I can do.”
*Shared from MySocietySource.
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