Band Together Concert Aids Ill Child
By Carol King
Article Launched: 10/17/2007 11:18:30 AM EDT



The power of music is extraordinary. Music can trigger a multitude of sensations. A simple melody can soothe the savage beast, evoke joy, elicit sorrow or bring forth prayer.
On Nov. 16, Band Together will present a musical event to inspire compassion, goodwill and charity for a Fairfield family that has fallen upon tremendously desperate times.

The concert, which will be held at Fairfield Theatre Company (FTC) beginning at 7 p.m., will support the medical needs of 10-year-old Gianna Sarica, who was recently diagnosed with brain cancer.

The concert dually aims to ease the financial needs of Gianna's parents, Buddy and Emmy Sarica of Fairfield, who themselves have faced devastating setbacks.

Scheduled to perform at the Band Together benefit event are Jen Durkin, Deep Banana Blackout, Bomb Squad, Gerald Goode, Simple Jim, Christine Tambakis, Tangled Vine, Renard Boissiere from New Orleans, Butch Taylor, Chris Coogan, Tyger MacNeal, Joe Meo, Rob Fried, Jerry Vigorito, Trippyphonics and Master Illusionist David Martin.

"All proceeds from this concert will help the Sarica family, whose medical expenses have gotten way out of hand," said Miles Marek, production director at FTC. "This concert will help the family as well as feature great musicians who attract other great musicians. The musical performances will be followed by an after-party. We hope that people come to this event to hear phenomenal music as well as to aid a good cause."
It's a win-win event, added Weston-based singer/musician Chris Coogan. "Band Together is a great band with a big heart. This will be a wonderful concert. It's a great way for people to come out and support a very worthy cause as well as enjoy great music. Everybody wins."

A Family Facing Tragedy

The Saricas have had more than their share of troubles. Last year, the couple watched their daughter, Alana, who was born severely handicapped, slip away after 29 years of defying the odds.

Not only was the loss of their sister very hard on their two surviving children, Gianna and Zac, but also, according to Emmy, "they had two parents that were emotionally unavailable to them."

In the midst of Alana's illness, the Saricas decided to sell their beloved family home to lessen their financial burdens.

Although they found a suitable situation for themselves and their aging parents, the buyers of their home backed out at the 11th hour.

"The buyers initially wanted us out of our home in 30 days, so we purchased another home," said Emmy. "Then they backed out at the last minute because they didn't want to live in a house where my daughter had lived. They said they were grossed out by her condition."

Instead of lessening their financial obligations, the Saricas now owned two houses and faced foreclosure.

As Alana's health declined, the Saricas took their home off the market so she could spend her final days in peace. The dust settled this past March, but by the time legal fees, penalties, interest, and taxes were paid, they hadn't succeeded in bring down their mortgage payments.

Tragedy struck the family again in May, when Gianna complained of headaches and double vision. After several visits to their doctor, she was diagnosed with a mass above her pituitary gland. She began chemotherapy treatments in June.

Gianna recently finished her first round of chemo. "She was unable to eat for six days, she lost four pounds and had very unstable sodium levels," said Emmy. "Her blood work found her to be neutropenic, which means that she had relatively no resistance at all. She is unable to go to school, not allowed to eat certain foods like raw fruits and vegetables to name a few. She cannot go to public places, such as stores, movies or any place she can be exposed to germs."

At press time the Saricas were waiting to hear whether Gianna is now in need of surgery or will undergo radiation treatments.

The medical treatments, combined with the mortgage payments, have been a huge strain on the family's budget.

"I am a Realtor employed by ReMax Heritage in Westport but I have not been able to work productively," said Emmy. "My husband works at Westport Honda but his insurance does not cover all of the medical expenses we have incurred.

"Band Together has been a real blessing and this concert will really help us in paying our medical bills," she said.

The Saricas previously owned Little Blessings, a children's clothing store located on the Post Road in Westport.

About Band Together

When Jerry Vigorito heard about the Saricas' plight, he said that Band Together was compelled to get involved.

"This is a very special family that has been hammered by misfortune," he told the Westport News. "The Saricas have already lost a daughter and faced such financial hardship. We want to help offset the costs of Gianna's medical expenses. Our goal, with this concert, is to raise $20,000."

Band Together was founded by Rob Fried and Vigorito. Their vision, Vigorito said, "is to create great musical events that are fun to attend and help unite the community of talented local musicians with people and organizations interested in channeling funds raised to specific families in need of a helping hand."

In discussing his involvement, Vigorito explained that Band Together has four goals: "To make and enjoy music, to use our talent and influence to help people in need, to develop a network of supporters for concerts and programs, and to get one step closer to Heaven."

The band's previous concerts have supported Habitat for Humanity Youth House Projects.

The Concert

Tickets for the concert and after-party cost $40 for FTC members, $50 for all others. Tickets for the after-party only, featuring music by the Trippyphonics, are $25 per person.

To order tickets, contact Fairfield Theatre Company 70 Sanford St., Fairfield, CT 06824, e-mail info@fairfieldtheatre.org, call 259-1036 or visit the Web site at www. fairfieldtheatre.org

Sponsoring the after-party are Zest, The Pantry, Chef's Table, Health in a Hurry and Luigi's Pasta.

Sponsors Sought

Pam Shaughnessey-Banks of Fairfield-based Shaughnessy-Banks Funeral Home is urging local businesses to make contributions to help the Saricas.

"When the Saricas owned Little Blessings, they were the first people to step up to the plate and donate money to a charitable cause," Shaughnessey-Banks said. "Now we are hoping that local businesses can step up and help them. The Saricas are a kind a wonderful family that has faced an abundance of hardships in their lives and we really hope that the community will support them."

She added, "Although Gianna has health insurance that pays 80 percent of her medical bills; her family is responsible for 20 percent which has grown to more than $70,000 with no end in sight."

To date, the concert is being sponsored by WICC/WEBE, Atlantic National Mortgage, The Grella Family, The Shaughnessey Family, Kiwanis Club, ReMax Heritage, Attorney Michael Rosten, Blausen Lisi and Salon La di Da.

Students at Tomlinson Middle School in Fairfield have begun a fund-raising campaign on Gianna's behalf. Half of the money raised during the school's Ghost Gram program will be donated to her cause. A ghost gram is a bag of candy that students buy for $1 and then send to a friend during the Halloween season.

An anonymous donor has pledged $2,000 to help Gianna.

For information on sponsoring the concert or donating money to the aid the Saricas, e-mail Pam Shaughnessey-Banks at pshaughnessey@sbcglobal.net, call 255-1031, or write to Pam M. Shaughnessey-Banks, 50 Reef Road, Fairfield, CT 06824. Her fax number is 254-2313.

Sponsorship information also may be obtained from Jerry Vigorito, senior vice president, Atlantic National Mortgage, 191 Post Road W., Westport, CT 06880. His phone number is 227-7100, e-mail jerryvig @atlanticnational.net