Singing Boston Strong: Spotlight on Tufts Jackson Jills

When I reached out to Boston area collegiate a cappella groups for Music for Miracles back in 2011, Tufts Jackson Jills jumped right on board. They rocked Morse Auditorium and helped us raise a lot of money for Childrens Hospital Boston and my husband's 2011 Boston Marathon run.

When I got the idea to do another a cappella concert, Singing Boston Strong: An Evening of A Cappella to Benefit Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and contacted the Jills, they immediately said yes to donating their time and talent to the event.

Founded in 1963, the Jackson Jills is Tufts’ oldest all-female a cappella group. We are a non-profit group, and we frequently sing at charity events, fundraisers, nursing homes, schools, and private parties, sharing our love of music with our audiences. Our vocal styles range from standards like The Beatles and Pat Benatar to modern stars like Rihanna, Bruno Mars, and Beyonce. Our recordings have received numerous Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards, been featured by Rolling Stone, and our tracks have appeared on Best of College A Cappella (BOCA) albums and CAMO best-of a cappella albums. We just released our 50th anniversary album, Moonlighting, in Spring 2013.

Their appearance on Fox25 news went viral last year after the Red Sox made it into the World Series:



Welcome the Jills back to Boston University with a sell out crowd all to benefit Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Let's hit a home run after we celebrate Opening Day here in Boston.

Donate to Greg's fund raising page and in the comments section write how many tickets you would like set aside. We will have them ready for you at the will call table. Minimum suggested donation/ticket is $10 to reserve your spot for one of the hottest a cappella shows this Spring.

See you on Friday!

One Month From Today - Singing Boston Strong at Boston University

On 4/4/14 we will be rocking Boston University for Greg Gordon's Boston Marathon Fund Raiser: An Evening of A Cappella to Benefit Spaulding Rehab.

My friendship with Greg dates back to when we ran together on the 2009 Race for Rehab Team:

I ran his inaugural Brookline Symphony Orchestra 5K Fun Run and Walk in 2011 and we were reunited with our fellow team mate, TK:

Greg and I were together in the Mandarin on 4/15th as we were waiting for TK and other Race for Rehab members to come down Boylston Street.

Everyone was shaken to the core by the events of 4/15/13 when lives were forever changed. Many of the bombing survivors were treated at Spaulding Rehab Hospital.

As Boston and the world count down the days until the start of the 2014 Boston Marathon, we are counting down the days until Singing Boston Strong: An Evening of A Cappella to Benefit Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.

Friday, April 4, 2014

Boston University's Jacob Sleeper Auditorium

871 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA

7:00-9:00 pm

Hosted by Boston University's Premier all female a cappella group, Terpsichore

Featuring performances by:

Terpsichore

BU Dear Abbeys

In Achord

Tufts Jackson Jills

Bostonality, a post collegiate a cappella group

Minimum suggested donation is $10. Read Greg's inspiring and moving story as to why he is running Boston 2014, and make your donation to Greg Gordon's fund raising page. In the comments write "a cappella". We will have your tickets ready at the "will call" table.

From Greg's fund raising page:

"I’m running the 2014 Boston Marathon as a member of the Spaulding Rehab team!

The 2014 Marathon will surely be an emotional and history-making event in Boston. Spaulding's brand new facility in the Charlestown opened just two weeks after the bombings. The majority of those injured spent time at Spaulding as they recovered from their injuries. Spaulding’s mantra, “Find Your Strength”, has never been more appropriate, as Spaulding was there to help the survivors find their strength, and will be there for every patient who needs them in the future.

On a personal note, running this race this year for Spaulding is particularly important. I was at the Marathon last year and witnessed what took place. I know first-hand the importance of Spaulding’s work, as my younger sister suffered a traumatic brain injury six years ago. I know the value of a comprehensive rehab program and how it can affect a patient’s outcome.

I’m proud to represent Spaulding and look forward to running down Boylston Street on Patriot’s Day (hopefully in front of my friend Terry Kelly).

I would like to ask you to please support my run and make a donation to Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. My goal is to raise $7,500 for Spaulding by April 21st.

Thank you very much for your support.

Greg"

80 Days to Go...Support Crew

80 days to go until so many of my friends take their place at the starting line of the 118th Boston Marathon. Countless days are behind us since 4/15/2013 when lives were forever changed. I am reading about stories of remarkable strength and recovery.

Celeste Corcoran took her first running steps with two prosthetic legs:



Jeffrey Bauman is getting ready to release his book, "Stronger"



At the top of the book cover it reads, "I saw the bomber. He took my legs. He didn't break me. He only made me."

I know how incredibly fortunate Tom and I were to have escaped to safety after leaving the Mandarin Oriental Hotel where we were preparing to regale the runners on the Spaulding Race for Rehab Team in the suite above Boylston Street across from the Forum where the second bomb went off. Yet like everyone, we were shaken to the core. It's ironic that on the morning of 4/15/13 as we were heading to the Mandarin, Tom and I talked about whether or not he would run in '14 for Spaulding. We had begun to strategize about fund raisers.

We have no choice about what happens in our lives but we always have a choice of how we respond. While a part of me wanted to run Boston again, I knew that was not a path that would make sense for me. Tom decided this was not the year for him to run Boston again. But we knew we had to do something as we moved forward to get ready for this year's Boston Marathon.

I took the first steps on my healing journey at Spaulding Rehab Hospital where I was diagnosed with post polio syndrome in December of 2006 and I know the difference that the new Spaulding has made in the lives of the bombing survivors and their families who were devastated not only emotionally but physically by the bombings. I continue to find my strength in the Aquatics Therapy program. While I may not be running 26.2 miles for Spaulding, I am going the distance with two phenomenal fund raisers that I have put together in support of Karis Antokal and Greg Gordon who are running on the Race for Rehab Team with the theme of Singing Boston Strong:



Karis' Karaoke for a Kause happening on 2/20/14 from 8:00-10:00 pm at the Limelight Stage and Studios at 204 Tremont Street Boston. Suggested minimum donation is $20 and you receive a Take a Chance ticket to be entered to win an autographed Tom Brady Jersey. And don't worry if you're too shy to step up to the mic, we'll have plenty of people singing strong. Cash bar and appetizers. If you are unable to join us, with a minimum donation of $35, we'll enter you in the drawing to be held on 2/20/14. Read Karis' story on her fund raising page and make your donation today. Silent Auction Items include autographed books by Bob and Lee Woodruff, A Cape Getaway Weekend, Celtics and Red Sox Tickets, Gift certificates to Stapleton Floral Design and Marathon Sports.

An Evening of A Cappella to Benefit Spaulding Rehab happening on 4/4/14 at Boston University. Terpsichore, Boston University's premier all female a cappella group will be your host from 7:00-9:00 pm at Sleeper Auditorium located at 871 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA. The evening features performances by Terpsichore, the BU Dear Abbeys, BU's In Achord and Bostonality, a post collegiate a cappella group. Minimum suggested donation is $10. Make your donation to Greg Gordon's fund raising page and in the comments section note that it is for the benefit concert.

This Sunday, and on March 9th, Tom and I will be hosting a water stop for L Street Running Club offering moral support as the runners put in their miles on their road to the Boston Marathon.

With 80 days to go...we are all healing and moving forward and finding ways to be a part of the day. As for me? I am honored and proud to be a part of the support crew.