Press Release
Monday, August 7, 2023
Press Contact:
Olivia Lyle olyle@unite-to-light.org 805.617.0590
Unite to Light Presents: Mike Love Benefit Concert
Santa Barbara – Unite to Light, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing clean, renewable light and energy to people living without electricity, is partnering with REACH For Uganda to host the Mike Love Benefit Concert, an electrifying musical event with a purpose.
The concert aims to provide 2,000 solar powered Luke Lights to create Light Libraries at REACH For Uganda schools. A Light Library is where schools possess a number of solar-powered Luke Lights for students to “check out.” By checking out the Luke Lights, students can take them home to study after the sun goes down. When students are finished, they can return the light for another student to check out. Light Library projects have led to a 30% increase in graduation rates.
The benefit concert, featuring Mike Love — Lucidity headliner and revolutionary reggae artist — promises to deliver an unforgettable evening of entertainment and inspiration. Attendees have multiple ticket options, including a VIP dinner Meet & Greet with Mike Love and Joyce Wanda, the Executive Director and Co-founder of REACH for Uganda.
“There are still almost a billion people living without access to electricity worldwide,” said Megan Birney Rudert, President and CEO at Unite to Light. “This project helps some of the most vulnerable children gain the tools they need to lift themselves out of poverty. By creating Light Libraries, we can help multiple students with a single $10 solar light.”
The concert will take place at Soho Restaurant and Music Club, renowned for being the heart of the live music community in Santa Barbara, providing an ideal setting for an exceptional night of music and philanthropy.
As part of our commitment to REACH for Uganda, all proceeds from ticket sales will donate Luke Lights to REACH for Uganda, a leading nonprofit dedicated to helping children in Uganda REACH for a better future by providing education, health and community development resources.
“REACH schools consistently lead the district in performance and we are convinced the Luke Lights donated in 2022 have made a difference”, said Joyce Wanda, Executive Director and Co-founder of REACH For Uganda. “We are excited to expand the program to 26 more schools in 2023.”
“Unite to Light will match up to 1,000 solar Luke Lights raised through this event,” said Megan Birney Rudert. “We hope to send 2,000 lights in total, or more.”
Unite to Light and Reach For Uganda first partnered in 2022, thanks to a Peace Corps connection made in Uganda 55 years ago among Dave Loveless, Harvey Shapiro and Dick Burk— Peace Corps volunteers from the U.S. — Dave and Harvey met Sylvia and Janet from Yorkshire, England. Dave and Sylvia married, as did Harvey and Janet. The two couples now both reside in California. Dick has been President of REACH For Uganda since 2008.
When Dave and Harvey were teaching, their Ugandan school children were using kerosene candles and lamps to study in homes without any electricity. The children suffered eye damage and burns. The group of Peace Corps friends are troubled that students are still using harmful kerosene lamps to study, even 55 years later. They want to give Ugandan students another option and asked Dave and Sylvia’s son, Mike Love, if he would help by playing a benefit concert to raise funds to send solar lights to REACH schools in Uganda.
Tickets for the Mike Love concert are available for purchase now. With a limited number of tickets, we encourage music enthusiasts and philanthropists alike to secure their tickets early. For those unable to attend in person, there is a fundraising page to contribute. For every $10 donated, Unite to Light will send a solar light to REACH schools.
Unite to Light extends its heartfelt gratitude to all sponsors, partners, and volunteers who have come together to make this event possible. Their unwavering support exemplifies the spirit of community and collective action.
Join us at the Mike Love Benefit Concert and let the power of music unite us to make a difference. Together, we can light the world!
To learn more, visit the Unite to Light’s webpage
To buy tickets, visit Soho Restaurant & Music Club
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Unite to Light believes that access to clean and affordable light and energy are critical to improving health, education and prosperity. As a not-for-profit 501(c)3 they manufacture and distribute efficient, durable, low cost solar lamps and solar chargers to people living without electricity. Since 2011 they have delivered 200,000 solar lights to people in 81 countries. They focus on projects that help children study at night, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, equip midwives with the tools they need to save lives, and offer relief to those suffering from disasters and experiencing homelessness.
REACH For Uganda, (also a 501(c)(3) nonprofit) partners with communities in rural eastern Uganda to transform the quality of their daily life and realize their future potential through improved education, healthcare, and community development. They support 26 primary schools, offer 520 secondary, university and vocational scholarships, operate 2 medical clinics and are now constructing a high-quality secondary and vocational school.
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