Concert seeks to raise money for homeless

The crowd of students was looking for some good music, good company and a break from academic stress. And the students found all this at the Penn Rocks Against Homelessness show last night. Penn Rocks, an independent student group headed this year by Wharton senior Ted Werth, organized a gala event including many bands such as the The Lidds and Sorry About Your Daughter. "This group was started five years ago," said College sophomore Jacqui Mandelbaum. "But this is the second year we are playing a benefit concert the Thursday right before Fling." Mandelbaum, who is in charge of finances of Penn Rocks, also said that the organization raised a total of about $10,000 last year, "$6,000 from ticket sales, and the rest from donations." Ticket sales and donations are expected to match last year's totals, Mandelbaum said. The benefits of the event are reaped by two charitable organizations, which both aid the homeless in Philadelphia. "We split the money in which half goes to University City Hospitality Coalition, Inc. and the other half goes to Empty the Shelters," said College senior Tal Kastner. Penn Rocks has been so successful that it was invited to join the Board of Directors of Empty The Shelters, Kastner said. "Since our founding, we have been one of [Empty The Shelter's] top five sponsors," she added. The student-run group has raised more than $40,000 to help the homeless in the community since its creation five years ago, Mandelbaum said. "Groups that we invite play for free, plus it is good exposure for them," she added. Those who showed up late encountered a huge mass of students that was still waiting to get into the concert located behind Beige Block. At one point, the crowd became so large that police cars were called to the scene to make sure the mob of students did not get out of hand. Students said last night that they enjoyed the event and were happy that they were helping a good cause.