Lenz helps Poverty Is Real (PIR) raise $14,500 for Decatur Cooperative Ministry (DCM) at the third annual Decatur PIR benefit concert series. The funds will support DCM in its mission to prevent and alleviate homelessness in Decatur and DeKalb County.
PIR has now raised $31,000 in just three years for DCM. Overall, PIR has raised more than $62,000 for organizations fighting homelessness and poverty throughout the Southeast United States, including $23,500 in 2013 alone.
Lenz has supported Poverty is Real since its inception with marketing, advertising, public relations, and interactive services.
“We are honored to support the work of Poverty Is Real and Decatur Cooperative Ministry,” said Lenz president and CEO Richard J. Lenz. “They embody the character and spirit of this community.”
The three-day Poverty Is Real concert series took place June 14-16, 2013 at Eddie’s Attic and featured performances by acclaimed folk singer and songwriter Caroline Herring, Nashville’s Bobby Bare Jr., the former lead singer of Moses Mayfield Matthew Mayfield, Lenz Marketing Director Mike Killeen and his band, The Dregs, Red Eye Gravy Records artist Nathan Beaver, and a Bob Dylan Celebration, “Shelter from the Storm,” which featured several great artists.
With sell-outs two of the three nights, and a heavily packed venue all weekend long, Decatur and Atlanta residents showed up in support of the PIR mission and enjoyed three days of great music for a great cause.
Below is a detailed recap of the weekend’s highlights:
FRIDAY, JUNE 14
Birmingham’s Matthew Mayfield, formerly the lead singer of Moses Mayfield, celebrated the release of his new EP, “Irons in the Fire”. The eight-song EP includes guest vocals by the Civil Wars’ John Paul White. Matthew’s songs have appeared in shows such as “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Heart of Dixie,” and “Ringer.”
SATURDAY, JUNE 15
Acclaimed singer-songwriter Caroline Herring played an energetic children’s show featuring songs from her new album, “Roxaboxen Songs,” and her forthcoming album, “A Book is To Sing.” The performance featured a unique blend of playing, singing, reading, and interactive storytelling.
Formerly of Decatur and now living in Nashville, Eddie’s Attic favorite Nathan Beaver returned for his first Atlanta show in nearly two years. Paste Magazine has called Beaver’s music “stunning in its simplicity” and 2011’s “Universal You” received widespread critical acclaim. Beaver performed a set of his own material and then sat in with Mike Killeen and the Dregs for a high-energy set.
Nashville’s Bobby Bare, Jr. brought his beautiful and quirky songwriting to the Attic for his PIR performance. Bobby has toured with Bob Dylan, been nominated for a Grammy, and is the subject of the documentary “Don’t Follow Me (I’m Lost).” He’s is the son of country legend Bobby Bare and began his career fronting the punk band Bare Jr. Bobby studied songwriting under the great Shel Silverstein, and his most recent album is called “A storm – a tree – my mother’s head.”
SUNDAY, JUNE 16
“Shelter from the Storm: Bob Dylan Celebration” featured a collection of talented artists performing mini-sets of Dylan’s greatest songs. Participating artists included Caroline Herring, Eliot Bronson, Nathan Beaver, The Skipperdees, Drew Beskin, Flint Hill Specials, Chris Stalcup, Kristen Englenz, Spencer Smith, Black Lab, Scott Miller, and Mike Killeen.
Additional sponsors of the event included: Alston and Bird, Barnes Law Group, Hall, Booth, and Smith, Decatur Downtown Development Authority, Private Bank of Decatur, First Baptist Church Decatur, Decatur Presbyterian Church – Night Circle, Law Office of Melinda C. Pillow, City of Decatur, Pure Gas Station, Columbia Presbyterian Church, Prudential Financial, Bill W. Markert, CLU, Prudential Financial, Emilie M. Markert, GRI, Realty Associates of Atlanta, RTD Financial Advisors, Inc., Publix, Jim Johnson/Allstate, Pursley Family, Oak Grove Market, Harry Norman, RedZone Consulting, CORE Landscape Group, Neil Dobbs/Allstate, McCurdy and Candler, Decatur Beer Festival, Decatur Green Fest, Decatur CD, Decatur Book Festival, Terrapin Beer, Decatur Business Association, Paste magazine, Little Shop of Stories, and Red Eye Gravy Records.