Calling All Dead Heads
The Dean Randazzo Foundation Hosts Its 3Rd Annual Concert For A Cause
Going Places
By Dina Guzzardo
On Saturday, December 1st from 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm The Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation is holding their third annual Concert for a Cause at Clancey’s by the Bay located at 101 E Maryland Ave, Somers Point, The Spirit of Jerry Garcia will be resurrected as the renowned Grateful Dead Cover Band, Pure Jerry, performs live all your favorite music from The Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia. Frontman Michael Morrow and the entire Pure Jerry Band possess the “X Factor” and have had long careers summoning the spirit of the legendary Jerry Garcia. They have built a reputation for delivering transcendent performances that move the body and enrich the soul. Pure Jerry will perform from their boundless and classic songbook and embody the very culture and vibe the original group brought to millions of fans since the 1960’s. Tickets are available at the door for $20 and include two hours of domestic draft beer and house wine. Prize auctions and DRCF merchandise will also be available for purchase.
The proceeds from this eventful evening will go to the Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation. Dean Randazzo, a.k.a. “The Jersey Devil” has been crowned New Jersey’s most accomplished surfer. But it wasn’t always smooth sailing for Dean. Passionate and relentless about his surfing career, Dean often lived on yogurt samples in order to scrape up enough money to compete around the globe. His sacrifice paid off. Dean qualified for the ASP World Championship Tour in 1996, the first New Jersey competitor to do so which was the springboard to a very successful surfing career, but in 2001 the unthinkable happened, Dean was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Dean struggled with the decision to go public with his disease for fear of losing sponsorships, but Dean is a guy that feared very little and that always operated from strength. Dean soon realized that he could use his affliction to educate and help others who are battling cancer as well. In 2001 he made the decision to announce to the press that he was battling Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, Calif. After he announced there was an outpouring of support which empowered Dean and strengthened his resolve. He knew this was an opportunity to help others. Soon after the Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation was born.
Since 2001 Dean has used his influence to raise more than $500,000 through his foundation and has donated to individuals battling cancer and their families. To assure his foundation was making the biggest impact possible, over 90% off all proceeds raised by his foundation go directly to the cause. The foundation is operated on a volunteer only basis and doesn’t pay salaries to anyone. The foundation also provides grants to local organizations including the Ruth Newman Shapiro Cancer Fund, Shore Medical Center Cancer Center, Gilda’s Club of South Jersey, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of South Jersey, Cape Regional Cancer Center and AtlantiCare Cancer Center.
Dean always knew he’d do great things. After emerging victoriously following four rounds of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma’s, his foundation created over a dozen events that directly benefit those families struggling with the devastation of cancer. Dean believes that all battles can be won, and his upbeat and empowering personality embodies that of a fearless warrior whose proudest accomplishment is helping others.
Dina Guzzardo is the President and Executive Promoter of Dina Media Group LLC. Dina Media Group is an innovative cutting edge media and marketing company that produces and promotes events including; concerts, benefits, festivals, fairs and outdoor markets.
