If ever there was an opportunity to sample a wide variety of music at the same event on the same night, the 13^th annual Unity Music Festival to benefit the Sheboygan County Cancer Care Fund (SCCCF) will provide that and more Saturday, April 8, at the Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts in Sheboygan.

Mary Ann Waldbauer of Sheboygan Falls founded the Unity Music Festival in 2005 to support local cancer patients in need.

Over the past 12 years, the event has grown substantially while drawing some of the best area musical talent, as well as a loyal contingent of dedicated sponsors and supporters.

This year’s show, which begins at 7 p.m., will feature four highly talented and diverse musical performers, including soloist Allison Stauber, The Rice Family, The Eldorados and The Rick Raybine Band.

“We have been so blessed with another great line up,” Waldbauer said. “We have a very multi-talented soloist, Allison Stauber, The Rice Family from Oostburg will be playing bluegrass. The Eldorados will be on hand playing 50s and 60s music and The Rick Raybine Band will do country. There will certainly be something for everyone.

“If you do not like an act, sit tight because the musical style is about to change with the next act,” she said. “Also, the big bands will be coming together for never-before-done grand finale, which will be spectacular.”

Fundraising activities will kick off the festivities begin at 5 p.m. with silent and live-auction viewing, as well as dollar and 50/50 raffles.

In addition, there will be two gala appetizer buffet events this year one of which will run prior to the show upstairs at the Weill Center starting at 5 p.m.

The other buffet will take place beginning at 5:30 p.m. next door to the Weill Center with Chef Clint and Miesfeld’s staff providing the appetizers.

All proceeds from the show will go to support the Sheboygan County Cancer Care Fund, which assists cancer patients within Sheboygan County.

“One hundred percent of the proceeds go to help cancer patients and their family members in Sheboygan County,” Waldbauer said. “Anyone suffering a financial hardship due to cancer can benefit from this fund.

“We can help with heat, light, water, house mortgages, wigs, rent, uninsured medical bills, groceries or gas cards, quality of life classes, etc.,” she said. “We help make their quality of life better while going through this devastating time in their lives.”

In 2017, the SCCCF is celebrating the 15-year anniversary of the very first gesture which was made in 2002.

Established in 2000, The Sheboygan County Cancer Care Fund is the brainchild of local medical oncologist, H. Marshall Matthews, who recognized the need to help cancer patients through their cancer journey; it was established in 2000.

In 2002, 17 gestures totaling $2,700 were approved. Since then, hundreds of gestures, amounting to more than one million dollars, have been accepted by the SCCCF.

According to Waldbauer, the Unity Music Festival has made great strides in raising funds to assist cancer patients in Sheboygan County, but much more needs to be done.

“With the donations of time, great talent, generous contributions and the sponsorships of local businesses, this cancer benefit has raised at total of $329,700.28 over the past 12 years,” Waldbauer said. “The need for assistance is growing, so I hope the community will turn out to support this cause.

“I encourage people to call their friends, neighbors, church groups, red hat groups, co-workers, or clubs and enjoy a fun evening together,” she said.

This year’s event will feature new faces leading the evening’s events, including master of ceremonies Randy Schwoerer and Re/Max Realty Plus & Cain Auctions Realtor/Auctioneer Nick Cain, who will be the auctioneer for the live auction during the show’s intermission.

General admission tickets are currently on sale for $20 per person and gala buffet tickets are also available for $30.

Tickets are available in advance at  Blattner’s Piggly Wiggly in Sheboygan Falls 1166 Fond Du Lac Ave. in Sheboygan Falls, 467-0477), Mary Ann or Rick Waldbauer (998 Huron Trail in Sheboygan Falls, 467-3303), Midwest Dental of Plymouth (1415 Eastern Ave. in Plymouth, 893-8458), Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts (826 North Eighth St. in Sheboygan, 208-3243), Matthews Oncology (1621 North Taylor Drive in Sheboygan, 458-7433), Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic (1222 North 23^rd St. in Sheboygan, 457-6800), Plymouth Piggly Wiggly (141 Eastern Ave. in Plymouth, 893-0741), Oostburg Piggly Wiggly (944 Center Ave. in Oostburg, 564-2234), Howards Grove Piggly Wiggly (714 South Wisconsin Drive in Howards Grove, 565-4421), Northside Piggly Wiggly (2905 North 15^th St. in Sheboygan, 458-9991), Sheboygan Falls Chamber-Main Street (504 Broadway St. in Sheboygan Falls, 467-6206), Festival Foods (595 South Taylor Drive in Sheboygan, 694-6260), Oostburg State Bank (905 Center Ave. in Oostburg, 564-2336) and Trilling True Hardware (901 Michigan Ave. in Sheboygan, 457-5541).

Sponsorships are currently being sought for this year’s event. Show ($4,000), gold ($1,000), silver sponsor ($500), bronze ($500) and friend ($50) level sponsorships are currently available.

Gold sponsors will receive four complimentary tickets to the show and the Gala Appetizer and Wine Buffet.

Silver sponsors will receive two complimentary tickets to the show and to the  Gala Appetizer & Wine Buffet.

The sponsorship deadline for inclusion in the event program is March 17.

The Sheboygan County Cancer Care Fund is a publicly supported 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Contributions by the public are fully tax-deductible.

“When you come to this fundraising event for the Sheboygan County Cancer Care Fund you will get great music, live auctions held on stage during the show, silent auctions, dollar raffles and a 50/50 raffle,” Waldbauer said. “The night is guaranteed to provide action-packed fun. The best part of it is it’s all about people helping people.”

For more information on the Unity Music Festival visit unitymusicfestival.org or the Unity Music Festival Facebook page.

More information on the Sheboygan County Cancer Care Fund can be found at www.scccf.org

For additional information or to purchase gala appetizer buffet tickets, call Mary Ann Waldbauer at 467-3303 or email umfmaryann@charter.net