The UCA Honors College hosted a music event to raise money and awareness for Heifer International at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, at Bears Den Pizza on Farris.
The Norbert O. Schedler Honors College Council hosted the 16th annual LiveStock Benefit Concert.
A donations table was set up at the entrance. Any amount was welcome and buttons were given to donors with animal images and phrases such as “Share a Sheep” printed on them. T-shirts were also available for purchase.
Around $960 was raised from donations and T-Shirt sales.
All proceeds go directly to Heifer International.
Dan West established the organization in 1944. The 70-year-old foundation started based on the “teach a man to fish” philosophy.
The organization is centered on helping families overcome poverty and hunger. They provide animals to families so they can eat, sell or farm them.
They also partake in educating families about managing water resources so they remain clean.
The Heifer project encourages empowerment for women, so they can be self sufficient and provide for their families.
The organization also educates young people about skills pertaining to farming and poverty so they can make educated decisions and hopefully beat the threats and psychological hardships of poverty and hunger.
More information, including how to help and donate, can be found at heifer.org.
Sophomore Amber Rolland, and Honors Council secretary, said the event is one that honors college students look forward to each year.
“The Honors Council is dedicated to preserving this tradition that began in 1998, as we strongly support Heifer’s efforts” she said.
The acts that played in the LiveStock Concert on Saturday were Ross Buddenberg, a solo country artist, Nick Bryant a solo alternative, folk artist from Georgia, Thin Margins a four piece progressive, indie band from Little Rock, and Sound Survival, a alternative rock band from Magnolia.
Doors opened at 8 p.m., ID was required upon entry.
The bands started playing at 9 p.m.
Each act did around a 45-minute set except Buddenberg and Bryant who split an hour slot.
Honors Council funds compensated the band for gas and performance time.
None of the money for the bands was taken from proceeds made for Heifer International.
Junior Jay Pittman, Sound Survival band member, said they did the concert to represent UCA, the honors college and help raise money for Heifer International.
“It is exciting to participate in bringing the community together to support an organization that epitomizes altruism,” he said. “We are happy that the proceeds will be going to Heifer Project International so they can continue to do the great work that they have been doing for decades.”
The LiveStock Benefit Concert is an event that started with the Honors College Dean, Rick Scott. He played a large role in establishing the tradition of hosting this event each spring.
