Musical Friends to Honor Maddie Simpson with The ALS Association Benefit Concert

Jan. 3, 2011 - PRLog -- Musical Friends to Honor Maddie Simpson with ALS Association Benefit Concert
Shoppers True Value Hardware’s co-owner is living with ALS diagnosis

SOUTH PORTLAND—Three singers will honor Maddie Simpson of Cape Elizabeth when they reunite to perform a benefit concert on Jan. 23. Simpson is living with the challenges of ALS while continuing to work in her family-owned Shoppers True Value Hardware store in South Portland. All proceeds from the concert will support the ALS Association of Northern New England.

Maine House Rep. Emily Ann Cain, Kelly Caufield, and Matthew Small will join pianist Nicholas Place to present “Music for Maddie” on Sun., Jan. 23, at 4 p.m., in the sanctuary of First Congregational Church of South Portland UCC, which will donate the space for the event. This concert of musical theater and popular songs will be the first time all three singers have shared the stage since they were members of the University of Maine Singers more than a decade ago.

“Our family is excited for this special concert that my UMaine friends will present. Every day, many kind people ask how they can help us. Now we have a tangible answer: they can attend the concert to show support for Mom and help to fund the important work of our local ALS Association chapter,” said Jessica Simpson Fulchino, who also works in the family store with her father and brother, Tom and Michael Simpson.

Cain, of Orono, is the new Minority Leader of the Maine House of Representatives and a fundraiser for the University of Maine’s Honors College. Caufield, of Gray, is one of Greater Portland’s revered musical theater actors with a long list of credits, including Good Theater’s “The Judy Garland Songbook,” and Portland Symphony Orchestra’s “Magic of Christmas.” Small, of Boston, Mass., is a career counselor for Emerson College’s School of the Arts. Place, of Portland, is a graduate student in a dual-degree piano program at Boston Conservatory and a former accompanist to the Windham Chamber Singers.

The ALS Association leads the fight to treat and cure ALS through global research and nationwide advocacy while also empowering people with Lou Gehrig’s Disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support.

“Music for Maddie” tickets will be available at the door for $10 prior to the 4 p.m. concert on Sun., Jan. 23, at First Congregational Church of South Portland, UCC, 301 Cottage Rd., South Portland.

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Leading the fight to treat and cure ALS through global research and nationwide advocacy while also empowering people with Lou Gehrig’s Disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support.