The Sing Off
Hosted by WQOW News 18's Emily Valerio and judged by local celebrity guests, Chancellor Jim Schmidt, Cathy Reitz and Nikki Harper, UWEC A Cappella proudly presented an exciting evening of a cappella competition, all to support their favorite charities.
The event offers a way for the popular musical groups to team up and give back to organizations they are passionate about. The group competed for audience votes (ticket stubs and dollar bills) and the charity with the highest number of votes will be awarded 50 percent of the proceeds. The other four charities will receive the remaining 50 percent. Everyone wins!
The UW-Eau Claire branch of US Bank has also contributed a generous donation of $1,000 to the event's charities.
Participants' ticket purchases and donations will help support the following charities:
Audacious, performing for the Sojourner House
Callisto, performing for the Emily Program
Fifth Element, performing for the Alzheimer's Association
Impromptu, performing for the Jed Foundation
Innocent Men, performing for the Michael J. Fox Foundation
Grant Nerison, a member of Fifth Element, was very passionate about performing for the Alzheimer's Association. The group is very connected with the Alzheimer's disease, Grant's connection is through his granmother (Janice Walraff). Here is a short quote from Grant...
"I had the privilege to perform in UW- Eau Claire's the Sing Off. Each performing acappella group selected one charity to donate the proceeds of the show to. Fifth Element decided to support the Alzheimer's Association. This is an Association that is very close to my heart. I have been directly affected by this terrible disease. My grandmother is very far along in her fight with Alzheimer’s. She is literally fighting for her mind. It is such an emotionally crippling disease in times when she doesn't even recognize my grandfather as her husband. However, she is a strong woman and my grandfather is a strong man. They are such an inspiration to me, and I will continue to support the Alzheimer’s Association and I hope The Sing-Off does as well."
Together all the groups were able to raise $4372.83. The proceeds contributed to each of the selected charities.
