Witness the debut of Rock The Plank, an outdoor concert featuring Kris Allen American Idol season 8 winner, along with Christian singer Adam Cappa and local musicians, when it takes to the stage on Saturday, August 5, from 5 – 10 p.m. on the campus of St. Peter Lutheran Church and School (SPLCS) and Lutheran High School North, 17051 24 Mile Rd, Macomb. Event proceeds in the form of sponsorships and donations will benefit two local cancer foundations: the New Day Foundation for Families, based in Rochester, and the ChadTough Foundation, based in Ann Arbor.“
The inspiration behind this new event is to bring awareness and funding to the two foundations that we are holding up,” said Rock The Plank organizer Darlene Piette. “Both ChadTough and New Day are working so hard on behalf of cancer patients and their families in our community. This is our way of helping them grow and thrive.
”Rock The Plank will rely on sponsorships and donations to help support the work they do. Concertgoers must register in advance to receive a parking pass for one of the designated lots. To register for the event, go to the Rock The Plank Home Page at www.RockThePlank.net and click the “Register Now” button. Corporate and individual sponsorships are now being sought for the event as well, and information is available on the website.
Featured performer Kris Allen, the American Idol season 8 winner, is known for his soulful musicality, first showcased with his platinum-selling 2009 single “Live Like We’re Dying.” Allen’s fourth full-length album, Letting You In, finds the Nashville-based artist delivering his most intimate and dynamic work to date.
Also performing at the event will be Indiana-born Christian rocker Adam Cappa. Cappa first released his BEC debut album “The Rescue” in 2012. Having enlisted tour mate Jeremy Camp as a producer and co-writer, Cappa took a worship/pop direction that emphasized bi-chorus hooks and radio-friendly arrangements. Cappa had Billboard success with his first single “The Rescue”, peaking at #22 on Billboard.
New Day Foundation for Families is a Rochester, Michigan-based nonprofit founded in 2007 by Michael and Gina (Kell) Spehn in the aftermath of losing their first spouses to cancer (parents of Sam Kell). They serve those who have a family member in active treatment for a cancer diagnosis (adult or pediatric), and who also have children under the age of 18 living in the home. They accomplish their mission by offering financial assistance and emotional support.
“Gina has spoken at our church before, during our Advent by Candlelight last Christmas,” said Piette. “Many church members know she and her son Sam personally, so it seemed like a natural tie-in to engage the New Day Foundation in our event.
”The mission of the ChadTough Foundation is to fund research and raise awareness for pediatric brain tumors with an emphasis on Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). The Foundation is named after Chad Carr, the son of Jason and Tammi Carr, the grandson of U of M coach Lloyd Carr and U of M great Tom Curtis, who died of DIPG on November 23, 2015. For more information on Rock The Plank or to sponsor the event, visit www.RockThePlank.net or email info@RockThePlank.net.