Goo Goo Dolls’ Johnny Rzeznik, Hall-of-Fame Journalist Peter Gammons and Celtics Owner Wyc Grousbeck Head All-Star Lineup Raising Funds for Boston Area Youth and Families
BOSTON (May 2, 2022) – An all-star roster of musicians, athletes and comedians helped raise $400K for Boston-area nonprofits supporting area youth and their families at the Hot Stove Cool Music concert and events over the weekend. The proceeds benefit The Foundation To Be Named Later, founded by Theo and Paul Epstein.
The weekend events included the Saturday evening concert at the Paradise Rock Club, which was preceded by Community Day at The BASE, a Roxbury-based nonprofit that combines athletic training and competition with academic and career resources to put urban youth on the basepaths to success. The BASE outing included a leadership discussion with more than 250 young athletes and their families that featured advice from Baseball Hall of Fame journalist Peter Gammons, former Red Sox and Cubs executive Theo Epstein, former Red Sox pitchers Bronson Arroyo and Lenny DiNardo, Paul Epstein, musician Kay Hanley and NESN host Tom Caron.
The concert, which was Hot Stove Cool Music’s first in-person event in more than two years, led off with a performance by youth-group Zumix followed by French Lick, a local band featuring Boston Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck on drums. It was followed by a rousing set by Band Of Their Own, featuring former Letters To Cleo singer Hanley and Belly/L7 bassist Gail Greenwood. The evening included an inspiring set of acoustic Goo Goo Doll songs by Johnny Rzeznik, who was later joined by the Hot Stove All-Stars, including Theo Epstein, Bronson Arroyo, Sam Kennedy, Peter Gammons, comedian-musician Dave Hill, Will Dailey, Barrence Whitfield, Chris Cote and Ted Leo. Comedian Eugene Mirman, who voices the character Gene Belcher on the animated sitcom, Bob’s Burgers, introduced the All-Stars.
The event was emceed by DiNardo, WBZ-TV sports anchor Dan Roche and deejay Angie C. The evening featured a series of live and silent auctions for one-of-a-kind sports and entertainment experiences, including Live Music Packages for the Who, NKOTB, Lady Gaga, Sir Paul McCartney and The Goo Goo Dolls shows, Celtics Playoff courtside tickets, signed guitars including the one Johnny Rzeznik played, autographed and personalized.
Hot Stove Cool Music was presented by Iron Mountain Entertainment Services, DrafKings and Cincoro, and sponsored a&g, Aramark, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, the Boston Celtics, the Boston Red Sox, Constellation, Elevate Communications, First Republic Bank, Foxfield, Greenberg Traurig, Harpoon, Hope Family Wines, Hotel Commonwealth, Karyopharm, Mintz, New Balance, PNC Bank, Rubin and Rudman LLP, Sloan, Takeda, The Boston Foundation, the Paradise Rock Club, Q Division, Walmart, Westfield and William Blair.
ABOUT HOT STOVE COOL MUSIC
Hot Stove Cool Music was founded in 2000 by Gammons and former Boston Herald sportswriter Jeff Horrigan. It is FTBNL’s signature event. FTBNL CEO Allyce Najimy and music director Ed Valauskas are the driving forces behind the event, with a team of dedicated volunteers of artists, sponsors, baseball players and musicians, all of whom donate their time and talents. HSCM is held each year in Boston and in Chicago (since 2012). Past headliners include Eddie Vedder (four times), Buddy Guy, James Taylor, Cheap Trick, Liz Phair, Tom Morello, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, Common, Yo-Yo Ma, Smashing Pumpkins, Juliana Hatfield, Steven Tyler and the Dropkick Murphys.
ABOUT FOUNDATION TO BE NAMED LATER (FTBNL)
FTBNL, a playful nod to the MLB trade term, “player to be named later,” was launched in 2005 by twin brothers Theo and Paul Epstein to invest in the next generation of diverse leaders through their Peter Gammons College Scholarships and support the nonprofit agencies working on the front lines, serving youth and families from disadvantaged neighborhoods in Boston & Chicago. Since inception, FTBNL has raised over $13.5 million and donated grants, scholarships, tickets and auction items to more than 500 nonprofit organizations. FTBNL has sent 200 Peter Gammons College Scholars, who have overcome tremendous obstacles, have high financial needs and great educational potential to the college of their choice, each with a mentor and plan for success. For more information on visit www.foundationtobenamedlater.org.
Media contact: Keith Gainsboro, Elevate, 617-895-7905, keith@elevatecom.com
