The Sam Grow Band.
For the last four years, Hot Licks Guitar Shop (Waldorf MD) has tried to find new ways to help raise money for a cause in which the shop truly believes: the fight against breast cancer. This year, Hot Licks hosted a fundraiser that took the form of a blues concert in the store’s outdoor courtyard. Since it had already been organizing Saturday Concert Events that were coined “Garage Days,” the store figured there was no reason not to bring the two events together. At worst, Hot Licks figured, it would raise money for a good cause and help a local musician get some exposure at the same time. What the team actually experienced was a great time, some good music and the chance to hang out with a few great people.
This event helped Hot Licks raise money to add to the donation pile for the Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure. For the last four years running, Team Hot Licks has hosted an annual fundraiser in support of the fight against breast cancer. To raise money this year, the team has done a number of things. It’s had multiple bake sales to go along with every in-store event that was hosted this summer. It also held a fundraiser at a local marina, with multiple items donated to the team raffled off. These included an Epiphone Les Paul guitar, a diamond tennis bracelet and many other items.
As in years past, the single biggest fundraiser was Hot Licks’ guitar raffle. In support of the cause, Hot Licks’ friends at Taylor Guitars in California donated a beautiful Baby Taylor Acoustic Guitar to be raffled off during the fundraising event. OMG also contributed a perfectly pink strap to go with the Baby Taylor. Hot Licks sold $2 raffle tickets in its shop for months. For each raffle ticket sold, the store posted a pink ribbon with names of the donors on them. The store’s usually gray walls were, at this writing, totally pink! With all fundraisers combined, the shop has raised more than $5,000 for breast cancer research just this year. On October 10, Team Hot Licks took on another 60 miles, walking for the cure.
Hot Licks expressed gratitude to its friends from The Sam Grow Band for playing at its fundraiser at The Port Tobacco Marina. It also wanted to thank its friends from The Mike Starkey Band for playing at its “Blues for the Cure” benefit at the shop. Both events made it possible to raise money for a very worthy cause.