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Sock Out Cancer® Announces Its 4th Benefit Concert in the Southern Tier!

Jun 25, 2021Company News

At Binghamton’s Forum Theatre on Saturday, October 9, a “Piano Man” and his band will be singing us a whole evening’s worth of songs to help cancer patients in Broome County who are facing financial difficulties. On that evening, Sock Out Cancer will present its 4th benefit concert: A Musical Tribute to Elton John and Billy Joel. Details of the concert were announced on June 24 by concert sponsors, joined by Binghamton Mayor Rich David, Broome County Executive Jason Garnar, New York State Senator Fred Akshar, and representatives of the Lourdes Hospital Foundation, the UHS Foundation, and the Upstate Foundation, Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. The fundraising goal is $100,000, which will be shared equally by the three hospital foundations to assist area cancer patients and their families referred by the hospitals’ caseworkers.

“Security Mutual is proud to join with Binghamton concert co-presenter Visions Federal Credit Union and the many generous concert sponsors who are standing with us to raise money for individuals who might have nowhere else to go,” said Security Mutual Life Chairman and CEO Bruce W. Boyea. “These sponsors are great people and great companies, and we are incredibly fortunate to live in a community that cares this much.”

Boyea also announced that Sock Out Cancer will be making 300 concert tickets available at no charge for local cancer patients to enjoy a night out. For the rest of the public, tickets will be available for sale through Ticketmaster®. Boyea pointed out that in addition to enjoying a great evening of music, concertgoers will have the satisfaction of knowing that every dollar raised from ticket sales is going directly to the hospital foundations, who then use every dollar for Southern Tier cancer patients who need help paying for basic necessities, including food, utilities, housing, and gas to get to treatments so patients can focus their energy on fighting cancer.

The Importance of Sock Out Cancer for Local Cancer Patients in Need

Speaking on behalf of the three hospital foundations, UHS Hospital Foundation Development Manager Andrea Mastronardi expressed their deep appreciation to Sock Out Cancer for raising more than $700,000 over the past few years, which has been shared equally between UHS and Lourdes and gone directly to support their cancer patients in need. She also welcomed Upstate Foundation, which will receive funds this year to help Southern Tier families whose children are being treated at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital.

“While we work with our families and provide support to them through this funding, I am truly overcome by the challenges they face,” said Mastronardi. “I am also overcome by the sense of relief and gratitude that they feel when they find out that their rent payment is being paid, or their rising utility bill is being paid for by Sock Out Cancer funding. Cancer carries a tremendous weight, and our patients need strength, courage and energy to work through it. Sock Out Cancer has truly exemplified their mission and has really made a huge impact on the lives of our community members, our families and our cancer patients. For the foundations, we look forward to the continued support, we welcome Upstate and are happy to have them there so we can support our pediatric patients. I hope to see everybody on October 9th for this great concert so we can continue to support this wonderful mission.”

Binghamton Mayor Rich David thanked the event’s many sponsors for their generosity and noted how important Sock Out Cancer is for local cancer patients. “Without question, the money that is raised, it is a lifesaver,” said David. “This is just such a very creative and unique event that takes place in the City of Binghamton that in a very short period of time has just exploded with regard to its success, its popularity, and most importantly, the amount of funds that have been raised to help those in need. Because at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about—it’s about helping people in our community. I know this event is going to be successful, and I’m really honored to play a role in helping it be a success.”

Broome County Executive Jason Garnar also recognized the critical difference that funds from Sock Out Cancer can make in the life of someone struggling both to fight cancer and pay bills. “I’ve known people who have gone through this battle with cancer. Unfortunately, I’ve known relatives and other people who have lost this battle to cancer . . . The last thing a family needs to figure out is, ‘How am I going to afford gas to Syracuse?’ ‘How am I going to afford a hotel room?’ ‘How am I going to be able to pay for this?’ These types of things are taken care of with this fund. And I just can’t think of a better cause than that: helping our families in Broome County through one of the most difficult things that they’ll ever have to face. I can’t think of a better event to showcase us coming back from the pandemic than [A Musical Tribute to] Elton John and Billy Joel. I want to see this place packed and all for this great cause of helping our families during this fight with cancer.”

Concert Proceeds Being Advanced to Help Foundations Now

Boyea thanked the foundations and their hospitals for their care and compassion in treating their patients and then made a special announcement: “Because there’s such a need for care today, we don’t want to wait until the October 9th concert to start helping area cancer patients. Instead we want to start helping right now. Therefore, we are proud to advance $30,000, with each foundation receiving a check for $10,000 now so they can begin putting that money to work for their cancer patients beginning today.”

Boyea also pledged to continue advancing funds to the hospital foundations as concert tickets are purchased. “The real power is that the money from every ticket purchased is going directly into the Sock Out Cancer fund for this concert, and we will advance checks to these organizations periodically between now and the concert, rather than waiting to distribute the entire amount on October 9th.”

Performers Poised to Deliver High-Energy Concert

Also on hand to announce the concert was a very special guest: the upcoming concert’s featured performer, Philip Myers. Myers is the leader of a 7-piece band and has opened for many famous entertainers, including Elton John himself. In fact, it was while being backstage at the Elton John – Billy Joel concert that Myers first had the idea of recreating the Elton John – Billy Joel Face to Face Tour. Since that time, Myers and his band have performed their Musical Tribute to Elton John and Billy Joel for audiences all over the world, including Asia, Europe, and North America. On October 9 in Binghamton, Myers and his band will be joined by fellow performer and recording artist Matt Cusson, where together they will deliver a high-energy concert that will have the crowd on its feet singing and clapping along to the greatest hits of Elton John and Billy Joel, from Bennie and the Jets and Crocodile Rock, to Only the Good Die Young, It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me, and more.

“I lost my mom—who was my greatest musical influence—when I was 18 years old to cancer,” said Myers. “It was very difficult for me. I then lost my father to cancer, and I lost my grandmother to cancer. So it’s something that’s very close to my heart and . . . it’s all about giving back. We’re gonna rock this place and I am just so excited to see faces and get out there and present the music of Elton John and Billy Joel and bring a lot of energy to you guys.”

World Premiere to Take Place in Binghamton on October 9!

Myers treated the press conference attendees to a mini-concert, performing Elton John’s Your Song (How Wonderful Life Is), as well as Billy Joel’s Piano Man. He then joined Boyea in making another exciting announcement: the world premiere of an original Sock Out Cancer theme song will take place during the Binghamton concert. Myers and his fellow musicians have composed 10 original songs for Sock Out Cancer, including a theme song. “We’re going to premiere the new Sock Out Cancer theme song—Together We Stand—right here at the concert on Saturday, October 9th,” Myers announced. “It will be the world premiere of that song. It’s going to be exciting!”

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Sock Out Cancer presented each of the three Binghamton hospital foundations with a $10,000 advance from the concert’s net proceeds goal of $100,000. (l to r) Director of Development, Southern Tier, Upstate Foundation/Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital Cynthia Rotella; UHS Foundation Development Manager Andrea Mastronardi; and Lourdes Hospital Foundation President Robert O’Connell.

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(l to r) Security Mutual Life President and COO Kirk R. Gravely; concert performer Philip Myers; and Security Mutual Life Chairman and CEO Bruce W. Boyea outside the Broome County Forum Theatre.

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(l to r) Security Mutual Life President and COO Kirk R. Gravely; Lourdes Hospital Foundation President Robert O’Connell; Director of Development, Southern Tier, Upstate Foundation/Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital Cynthia Rotella; Security Mutual Life Chairman and CEO Bruce W. Boyea; UHS Foundation Development Manager Andrea Mastronardi; and concert performer Philip Myers outside the Broome County Forum Theatre.

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About Sock Out Cancer®: Sock Out Cancer is a nonprofit initiative that aids financially distressed families so they can put all their energy into fighting cancer. It is funded through donations, community-based fundraising efforts and the sale of its signature multi-colored socks, all of which also help raise public awareness of the financial challenges facing families fighting cancer. To learn more about Sock Out Cancer please visit SockOutCancer.org and the Sock Out Cancer Facebook page. Sock Out Cancer, LLC, is wholly owned by the Security Mutual Life Foundation, which is a New York 501(c)(3) public charity.

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