GLIN==> New foundation forming- Great Lakes Aid Concerts

["List Manager" <adminpst@great-lakes.net>]

Submitted by Tom Fuhrman <lerc@mercyhurst.edu>


Note: The press conference was held on Feb. 5. Follow-up news stories 
include, among others:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-02-06-lakes-music_x.htm
http://www.freep.com/news/mich/lakeaid8e_20050208.htm

---
NEWS RELEASE



Date: February 3, 2005





Contact:         Tom Fuhrman

                       814-824-2407

                       lerc@mercyhurst.edu





New foundation forming to raise money and awareness for Great Lakes 
Protection and Restoration with Great Lakes Aid  Concerts



ERIE, PA. - Tom Fuhrman, President of the Lake Erie Region Conservancy and a 
board member of Great Lakes United, today announced plans to form a new 
foundation,  Great Lakes Aid (GLA).  The mission of GLA will be to raise 
money and awareness for Great Lakes Restoration and Protection efforts 
throughout the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence ecosystem which will provide 
financial support to organizations that work to that end.



GLA will promote annual music festivals held in cities throughout the basin 
with at least one major event to be held each year in one of the five major 
Great Lakes Cities (Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo and Toronto).



Individuals from organizations such as the Great Lakes office's of The 
Nature Conservancy and National Wildlife Federation, Great Lakes United, the 
Lake Michigan Federation, Friends of the Crooked River (Ohio), the Public 
Interest Research Group, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum, 
Environmental Associates of NY, Friends of the Chicago River and other 
environmental organizations in the Basin have been supporting the efforts of 
a core group in getting the project off the ground.



Work is under way for the first Great Lakes Aid concert to be held in 
Chicago in 2006.

A steering committee has been formed and has been working to line up an 
advisory board that would include celebrities and entertainers similar to 
what has made Farm Aid a success for the past twenty years. "This project 
has been received with nothing but excitement" said Fuhrman.  "All 
indications are that this has the potential to become a very successful 
endeavor."









The Great Lakes represent 20% of the world's fresh water and they have 
received unprecedented attention in the past few years by all levels of 
government.  Currently there are bills in both the House and the Senate that 
would bring unprecedented funding for Restoration efforts.  Matching these 
federal dollars is going to be a challenge and Great Lakes Aid will be an 
additional partner in meeting this need."



There are almost 40 million people living in the Great Lakes Basin and a 
majority understand that the Great Lakes are a national treasure and that 
restoring their health is an investment in our community's health and 
economy.  A recent Joyce Foundation survey found that 96% of regional 
residents wanted better protection for the Great Lakes.



"Our main and immediate focus is to raise start-up money through grants, 
donations and sponsors that will allow us to establish the foundation and 
the infrastructure needed to put on our first concert" said Fuhrman.  The 
George Gund Foundation of Cleveland, Ohio recently awarded a grant for the 
project and Fuhrman has several other commitments.



A press conference will be held this Saturday, February 5th to make a formal 
announcement and discuss the project in further detail.  The press 
conference will be held at the Avalon Hotel in Erie, PA at 6:30 pm.  This 
will be followed by the first annual Erie Environmental Awards Celebration 
and Dinner featuring entertainment by Terry

Sylvester of the Hollies.  Sylvester and his band the Escorts often opened 
for the Beatles at the Cavern in Liverpool, England and Sylvester became a 
member of the Hollies in 1968 when he replaced Graham Nash.  The Hollies had 
such hits such as "Long Cool Woman," "The Air That I Breathe," and "He Ain't 
Heavy, He's My Brother."

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