Feb. 7, 2008

UNA AND THE FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH TEAM FOR BENEFIT CONCERT WITH JUDY COLLINS

By Josh Woods, Director of University Relations

FLORENCE, Ala. — The University of North Alabama and Foundation for Mental Health of the Shoals will form a unique partnership this spring when they host Grammy-winning folk singer Judy Collins. The benefit concert and dinner, slated for April 15 at the Marriott Shoals Convention Center, will benefit the general student scholarship fund at UNA as well as the Impact program at the Foundation for Mental Health.

The event will include a 5 p.m. lecture, a 6 p.m. corporate sponsors’ dinner and a 7:30 p.m. concert.

“This is an outstanding partnership of two organizations in the Shoals area with the common mission of transforming lives,” said Dr. William G. Cale, UNA president. “It is our goal to see this become an annual event, sending students to college not only this fall but in years to come.”

The Foundation for Mental Health of the Shoals, a support organization of Riverbend Center, is a non-profit, humanitarian organization providing educational opportunities and financial aid for mental health services in the Shoals area. Its Impact program enables individuals with formally diagnosed psychiatric or substance-abuse disorders to set time-limited, measurable goals, such as the completion of a high school or trade school diploma, a professional certificate or a college degree. The program currently enrolls two students at UNA.

“An institution such as UNA is an excellent resource for a program such as Impact, and the fact that we are able to team with UNA in this way will mean an even greater impact we’re able to make on people’s lives in this community,” said Tommy Pirkle, operations officer at the Foundation for Mental Health.

Sponsorship levels for the benefit concert and dinner range from $1,000 to $15,000. Sponsorships include tickets to the concert and dinner as well as rooms at the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa, spa passes, passes to the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail and recognition in the event program. Tickets to the concert only are $75 for the first ticket and $65 for each additional ticket. The lecture is free to the public.

Collins, whose musical career spans more than 40 years, released her first album, “A Maid of Constant Sorrow,” in 1961. She is also known for her rendition of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now,” which has since been entered into the Grammy’s Hall of Fame, and for her 1975 Grammy Song of the Year win for “Send in the Clowns.”

Collins’ career has continued with a number of albums through the years, including her 2007 “Judy Collins Sings Lennon & McCartney.” She is also the author of “Sanity and Grace,” a memoir focusing on the death of her son and her healing process that followed.

Tickets will be available for purchase at the will call desk in the conference center the evening of the concert.

Sponsorship levels include:

For $15,000
    3 rooms at the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa
    5 spa passes
    4 passes to the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail
    10 concert tickets
    10 corporate dinner tickets

For $10,000
    2 rooms
    4 spa passes
    4 golf passes
    8 concert tickets
    8 corporate dinner tickets

For $5,000
    1 room
    2 spa passes
    4 golf passes
    6 concert tickets
    6 corporate dinner tickets

For $2,500
    4 golf passes
    4 concert tickets
    4 corporate dinners

For $1,000
    2 concert tickets
    2 corporate dinner tickets