With the region’s nonprofit community gearing up for the upcoming online philanthropic event, the 2020 Giving Challenge, one area musician is hoping that music will help encourage donors throughout the community to support Goodwill Manasota. Joe Bruno Jr. of The Bruno Connection is organizing a number of musical colleagues for the Livestream show, “Good Music for Goodwill,” on the first day of the Giving Challenge, Tuesday, April 28, from noon-6 p.m. Funds raised from the Giving Challenge will ensure the organization, which has experienced significant economic losses in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, is at the ready to assist community members as well as its own workforce in getting back on their feet. 

Good Music for Goodwill will be live-streamed on Goodwill Manasota’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/user/flgoodwill (click on the “Good Music for Goodwill” thumbnail). Viewers will enjoy the following performers: The Bruno Connection Trio (jazz standards); Dana Lawrence & Thorson Moore of popular local group Kettle of Fish; Dovydas (Americana, blues and originals); Debbi & Lance Goldyn (jazz and pop); Steve Arvey (blues, Americana cigar box and originals); pianist and vocalist Robbie Rose (jazz standards); father and son duo Art and Aaron Siegel (jazz classics); and fiddler/vocalist Renee Riddle (country, bluegrass, Southern rock, Americana).

The Bruno Connection, which performs in Sarasota and communities throughout Florida, is made up of three generations of musicians: Joe Bruno Sr., trumpet; Joe Bruno Jr., bass; Christine Allen-Bruno, piano/keyboards; and Nick Bruno, an accomplished percussionist who also plays tuba, trombone, euphonium, trumpet and piano. One of The Bruno Connection’s associated performing groups, The Dixieland Hot Dogs, performed at Goodwill’s popular fundraising event, the Mardi Gras Gala, in 2019 and 2020. 

To support Goodwill during the Giving Challenge, go to givingpartnerchallenge.org and search for “Goodwill Industries Manasota.”

Visit Goodwill Manasota.