Eight Holmdel Bands Compete to Raise Money for Orphaned Ugandan Youth at Holmdel High’s “Band Aid for Uganda”

HOLMDEL, N. J. – With guitars and drumsticks in hand, a handful of Holmdel High School students recently put their musical skills to good use: to educate their peers and elders a bit about a humanitarian crisis in Africa, and helped raise $2,000 in the process.

On March 20, eight Holmdel bands, including Anacin; Jubaroo; Peach Snapple Brownies; Untitled; Insomnia; C Level; Definitely No; and Terminal, joined forces to headline “Band Aid for Uganda,” a Holmdel High School musical competition fundraiser for Holmdel-based charity, Sylvia’s Children. The winning band, DEFINITELY NO, was awarded with three hours of recording studio time at Retromedia Sound Studios in Red Bank, N. J.

“I am so excited about children helping children. This was a very successful event and we look forward to many years of working with Holmdel High School,” stated Sylvia Allen, founder of Sylvia’s Children.

The non-profit organization was founded in 2003 with the mission of supporting children at the Mbiriizi Advanced Primary and Day Care school in the village of Mbiriizi, Uganda, Africa, by raising awareness and funds to educate, feed, clothe and shelter them. One-quarter of the 1,001 children at the school have been orphaned due to the AIDS epidemic.

Since its launch in 2003, the organization has succeeded in ensuring an annual sponsorship for 95 of the 235-orphaned children and has raised $300,000+, 100% of which has gone directly to the school. It has built a well and a fully stocked library; purchased seven acres of land; donated an Internet-equipped computer; constructed a dormitory with triple-decker bunk beds; built a playground; provided sporting and musical equipment; and built three additional double classroom blocks as well as providing a full-time nurse and new stoves for increased cooking efficiency.

“Band Aid for Uganda” is the brainchild of Ryan Dolan, a Red Bank Catholic High School student, and was spearheaded by Holmdel High School student Danielle Ruda and her team of Noelle Magrino, Rachel McLaughlin, Jen Wiedeman and Brian Charalambous, as well as Principal William Loughran.

For more information on Sylvia’s Children or “Band Aid for Uganda,” visit www.sylviaschildren.org or call (732) 946-2711.