One Eighty is a non-profit located in Davenport. The organization serves people who desire to rebuild their lives after overcoming addiction, poverty, and other crises. Working with around 50 churches throughout the Quad Cities, it will partner with Bridge Cities Church in Bettendorf for a benefit concert to be held on Friday, October 25th.
The idea for a benefit concert was first proposed by a supporter of One Eighty, whose son is one of the regular worship leaders at Bridge Cities Church. Groups of musicians from several churches in the area were then pulled together to perform at the event.
Most of the event’s music will be led by Scott Schaefer and Andrew Sandry, both of whom are local artists in the region. As a special musical add-on of sorts, two residents of certain One Eighty programs, one a video producer and the other a musician, will unveil a music video. It’s a rap-style song about the journey following addiction on the road to recovery.
One Eighty’s Director of Engagement Jenny Halupnik said that music plays a big role in recovery. Being part of a faith-based organization, she said that she encourages recovering individuals to explore various churches to better understand their spirituality.
Halupnik said she’s looking forward to the event because of how unique it is. She said what excites her is knowing that creativity through the medium of music will merge the worlds of those currently going through recovery and those who never have.
“It’s a chance for our supporters and new people to come in and participate in the worship setting and experience that alongside people that maybe look different than them and have different lived experiences than them, and recognize we’re all human at the end of the day, and we have more in common than we have different. I feel like that is going to be a really unique part of the concert experience,” Halupnik said.
Proceeds garnered will go right back into the programming already aiding those One Eighty presently serves as they seek more purposeful and sober lifestyles, including housing and career training. One of the projects the organization has been working to complete involves the establishment of a sober sports bar for its graduates, which would include darts, a pool table, and TVs for football viewing.
The benefit concert starts at 7:00 p.m., but doors open thirty minutes before. There will be free parking, and a complimentary snack will be provided for attendees. Tickets are $19 per adult, $10 for children 12 and under, and $50 per family. More details regarding the event can be found at www.oneeighty.org.
This story was produced by WVIK, Quad Cities NPR. We rely on financial support from our listeners and readers to provide coverage of the issues that matter to the Quad Cities region and beyond. As someone who values the content created by WVIK's news department, please consider making a financial contribution to support our work.