Pearl Jam have announced that a pair of hometown concerts in Seattle, WA this summer have raised $10.8 million for almost 100 organizations working to fight homelessness in the city.
Billed as “The Home Shows”, the August 8 and August 10 performances at Safeco Field – that launched the group’s summer stadium series – saw the band pledge a minimum of $1 million toward local homelessness initiatives while challenging everyone to join them towards raising a minimum of $10 million for the cause.
“From the start, we hoped businesses, foundations and individuals would see themselves in this work,” says guitarist Stone Gossard. “The Home Shows initiative is about bringing the issue of homelessness closer to all of us – increasing our understanding of a complex issue, our empathy for our neighbors experiencing homelessness, and our resolve for working together. We’re proud of what our city has done. Now we need to stay inspired. There’s a lot more to do.”
Most Homes Shows Partners designated the organizations that will receive their financial commitments, which total nearly $7.8 million.
More than $1.3 million will be distributed by The Home Shows to nonprofits selected by Pearl Jam with guidance from a 19-member Advisory Group of service providers, issue experts and funders. Those funds will be targeted to two areas: Diversion, a strategy used to get people back into housing faster, and Youth Homelessness.
In addition, $1.7 million will be granted by Partners, the band and the Advisory Group, based on a future needs assessment.
“And this is just the beginning,” says Pearl Jam. “You have more influence than you think – and now is the time to use it. Email your elected officials and let them know what you want from them. Ask your employers what they’re doing on this issue. Support businesses committed to ending homelessness. Go out of your way to say ‘Hello’ and ‘How can I help?’ when you see a neighbor experiencing homelessness.
“Then, keep learning, donating, volunteering, paying attention, and believing. The more than 12,000 people living on the streets of our city need us to.”
Prior to the summer concert series, bassist Jeff Ament shared an update on the band’s next studio album, which was previewed in March with the release of the single, “Can’t Deny Me.”
“2019 is probably safe to say" for when the follow-up to 2013’s “Lightning Bolt” will surface, said the rocker.
See also:
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Search Pearl Jam at hennemusic
