Banshee hosts ‘Saving Grace’

What started as the simple desire to help a friend has evolved into a full-scale, six-hour-long fundraiser featuring local bands, food, prizes, celebrity bartenders and more. “Saving Grace,” a benefit concert to be held Sunday, March 21 from 1 to 7 p.m. at The Banshee in Scranton, is the brainchild of the close friends and family of Grace King of Peckville.

King is a devoted single mother to Tameka, who will graduate college this year, and Scranton Prep senior twins Brandon and Brian. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer during a visit to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in January of this year. Since then, friends and family have banded together to help her through the challenges associated with her diagnosis.

Eileen Milunic, Chinchilla, is a friend involved in the efforts. Milunic wasn’t sure where the idea for “Saving Grace” came from, “Everyone was just trying to do whatever they could to help and the idea just came together.”

Donations of food, prizes and band performances will allow for 100 percent of the proceeds to go to the cause. Mamma Mia’s Pizza Delivery in Scranton will be delivering trays of pizza to the event all day. “These are people who don’t even know us who are going out of the way to help our cause,” said event organizer and friend, Betsy Lewis, who had a hand in developing the idea for of a benefit concert. Her husband John, guitarist in the band Double Cross, has played numerous events such as this one throughout his local music career.

Five local bands will be donating their time to the “Saving Grace” event, each playing about an hour-long set. They include Double Cross, The Wanabees, Cameron Avenue Band, Indigo 6 and Maybe Someday. The Wanabees signed on to participate when Ron Pascoe, lead singer, was contacted by former band mate John Lewis, who is also a friend of King. “It’s a great cause and we just wanted to be able to help out,” said Pascoe.

Local celebrities including, Rocky, KRZ’s Rocky and Sue; Jake Navaro, Froggy 101 and Rich Kossuth, Rock Street Music, will be taking on bartending duties at the event. All of their tips will be donated to the “Saving Grace” fund.

Tickets are available for a donation of $10 and can be purchased in advance by calling The Banshee at 570.969.4248 or Betsy Lewis at 570.851.8093; they will also be available at the door.

Financial contributions are also being accepted at Old Forge Bank, 540 Main St., Peckville, Pa. 18452 care of the “Saving Grace” project.