Rockers Unite for Charity

Charity concert for the Rainbow Foundation at Chicago's House of Blues

Less than forty-eight hours after former Beatle George Harrison lost his long battle with cancer a host of British talent came together for a concert dedicated to the stricken guitarist at Chicago’s House of Blues. With proceeds benefiting the Rainbow Foundation, an organization helping families in crisis, the concert had actually been arranged for the charity well in advance.

Present from the Beatle’s hometown of Liverpool, England, were friends and colleagues, including original Beatles promoter Sam Leach, original Beatles drummer Pete Best, guitarist Joey Molland (Gary Walker & the Rain/Badfinger), and saxophonist Howie Casey (Derry and the Seniors/Paul McCartney & Wings), as well as England’s Spencer Davis (Spencer Davis Group) and Denny Laine (Moody Blues/Wings), and America’s Thaddeus Richard (Wings), Steve Howard (Wings), Jeff Robbins (Don Henley), Jim Peterik (Ides of March/Survivor), and vocalists Fergie Fredrickson (Toto), Kevin Chalfant (The Storm), and Terry Brock (Kansas). Backing the all-star line up was Chicago’s four time winners of Beatles sound-a-like competitions American English.

Friends John Schenk and Mark Battaglia, a mortgage broker and electrician respectively, established the Rainbow Foundation in 1997 with the intention of utilizing their connections within the music community to raise funds for ailing families with no trickle down effect or politics involved. As no one in the organization, including its founders, takes a salary all profits go directly to the chosen family.

While cancer patients are a high priority, it is not the forefront of the charity. Families that have lost income due to death or unemployment, or have been affected by life altering circumstances, are also supported. Mr. Schenk says, “The Rainbow Foundation believes that true satisfaction is not achievable amidst the ignored sufferings of other community workers.”

The first recipient of the Rainbow Foundations benevolence was Jessica Cosentino, a young gymnast who was hit by a car and then, as the automobile backed up, was run over a second time. At first, doctors believed that she may never walk again, but with the assistance and funding from the Rainbow Foundation she has been able to afford continued therapy and has resumed a normal life.

In events past, the Rainbow Foundation has raised awareness with the likes of actors Pierce Brosnan and Keneau Reeves, and Rock musicians Journey, Eddie Money, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd, as well as Styx’s Dennis DeYoung and REO Speedwagon’s Kevin Cronan.

In addition to the special “Breakfast with the Beatles” concert, held on December 1, The Who’s Pete Townsend, the Doors’ Robbie Kreiger, and singer Jessica Simpson all donated autographed guitars to be auctioned for the charity.

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