EAGLE MOUNTAIN — African children will benefit from a concert featuring Jericho Road plus Cherie Call and Jenny Jordan Frogley.
All of the proceeds go to Reach the Children, a New York-based charity designated as a nonprofit organization in Utah, California and New York.
Reach the Children generates funding for children and communities in Africa to assist with education, orphan care, AIDS prevention, health, water and agriculture and community development.
Concession proceeds from the benefit will go to the family of late Saratoga Springs Fire Chief Mike Penovich, who died July 5 in a vehicle accident.
Formed in 2001, Jericho Road has sold more than 150,000 albums. The band recently released a greatest hits album. Some of those hits include "Inside of Me," "I Believe" and "Every Single Tear."
Also performing is soulful Jacob Luttrell, who has been a background singer for Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, John Mayer and Fergie.
Two gospel choirs will perform — Divine Heritage Choir and Genesis Children's Choir. Breakdancers are included, along with a live band.
To volunteer, call concert organizer Rachel Mills at 636-6567. She is the wife of Jericho Road musician Abe Mills and works with Reach the Children.
Rachel Mills visited Africa to create a video for Reach the Children.
"I saw firsthand where the money was going. I saw firsthand the children who were benefited and the children who needed to be benefited," she said.
"We choose a different charity to benefit every year, and this year we chose Reach the Children because we were familiar with them and knew they were honest," she said.
The charity teaches Africans how to teach and improve their own societies, she added.
Reach the Children works from a gated school complex.
"I saw children begging to come in, but they didn't have room. They've grown since then," she said.
The event is sponsored by Eagle Mountain city, DAI, Excel Concrete, Andersound, US Synthetic, Prestige Homes, KNP Construction, The Ranches homeowners association, SilverLake homeowners association and Bangerter Jewelers.
The charity's board of directors includes two Utahns: its treasurer, Mary Harris, a member of the Utah State Steering Committee for Welfare Reform; and Genevieve Pelissie, vice chairman of the board. Pelissie holds an undergraduate degree in international development with an emphasis in African studies. She developed an intern program in Kenya and is a former Reach the Children expedition leader to Uganda.
Reach the Children advisory board members include Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah and former Gov. Norman H. Bangerter.
If you go
What: Second annual benefit concert
Where: SilverLake Amphitheater, Ranches area of Eagle Mountain
When: 7 p.m., Aug. 25
Cost: $10/$5 ($2 more at the door)
Phone: 636-6567
E-mail: rodger@desnews.com