Local Rockstar Is This Year's Marian Anderson Awards Honoree, But Young Artist May Steal The Show
By Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Final preparations are underway for the 18th annual Marian Anderson Awards at the Kimmel Center. Hundreds will celebrate a world renowed rock star and the money raised goes to a good cause.
Famed rocker and philanthropist Jon Bon Jovi is this year's Marian Awards honoree and the awards dinner and celebration concert is Tuesday.
"When we look at an honoree we're interested in knowing, what is their give back," says Dyana Williams, Vice Chair of the Marian Anderson Awards. She says Bon Jovi has led the fight against homelessness by creating low income housing in Philadelphia and New Jersey.
As chairman of The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, he's partnered with homelessness advocate Sister Mary Scullon and Project and others to help save "one SOUL at a time."
"He has never lost sight of his roots in this area," says Williams, "and although we are an international organization that was significant to us."
Grammy Award winning pop artist Estelle will perform, as well as rock group All-American Rejects, singer-songwriter John Baptist from New Orleans and Stay Human.
Money from the Awards gala pays for the Young Artist Study Grant that gives student artists with financial challenges a chance for deeper study of their craft. This year's recipient, 18-year-old violinist Sean Bennett, will perform at the awards ceremony.
"I'll be playing a sonata by Brahms that night," says Bennett, "The thing I really want to share is my love for my instrument."
Bennett spent the summer in Michigan at a summer music and arts camp, paid for the Marian Anderson Awards. The group of young musicians
"It was amazing, an amazing experience, and I will never forget it," he says, "I learned how to be an artist and how to love being an artist."
The Marion Anderson Awards has invested $500,000 in helping young artists.
For details on Tuesday's ceremony, visit: www.kimmelcenter.org.
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