NEW YORK—A band of talented young musicians will join The EyeRock Band in support of a good cause at The EyeRock Concert at New York’s Hard Rock Café on March 29. Known as The School of Rock All-StarTeam, the band is made up of outstanding teenage performers from Chicago. They will be special guests at the show, which features The EyeRock Band and will benefit New Eyes for the Needy.

“New Eyes has had a long-standing relationship with a local School of Rock affiliate that has sponsored community concerts to benefit New Eye’s programs,” said Jean Gajano, executive director of New Eyes. “Over the past five years, the local School of Rock has held its ‘Kids Rock for Vision’ concerts in New Jersey raising over $40,000 for the nonprofit with all proceeds dedicated to purchasing new prescription eyeglasses for disadvantaged children living in the U.S. “They play classic rock and roll, everything from the Rolling Stones and Cream to Guns and Roses,” said Gajano, “and I’d put them up against any professional musicians. They’re sure to bring down the house!”

 
 
The EyeRock Band consists of 30 singers and musicians who by day work in the optical industry. The band, which is dedicated to supporting nonprofit optical organizations, has performed twice before at the Hard Rock Café, most recently in 2012.

“The Hard Rock Café has always been a great place to meet up with friends in the optical field and have a fun night for a good cause,” said Denise Mogil, U.S. optical director of professional services for Costco, who is this year’s chair of the EyeRock sponsorship committee. “And it’s a great venue for companies in the optical business to entertain their clients or reward their employees with a memorable night of classic rock and roll, food and drink.”

Gajano said a growing roster of companies have signed on to be EyeRock sponsors. “New Eyes is very grateful for the support of the companies who have generously agreed to be sponsors in our inaugural year with EyeRock. To date, sponsors include Charmant, National Vision Associates, Jobson Optical Group, Davis Vision, Essilor USA, Marco, McGee, MCQ LLC, Modo Eyewear, Nouveau Eyewear, Ocuco, Santinelli International, Valley CL and Younger Optics. “And we would welcome more participation,” added Gajano, “so that New Eyes could assist more people in need to see clearly.”

New Eyes, a nonprofit dedicated to providing prescription eyeglass to individuals in need and distributing used glasses to the poor overseas, has helped over 8 million children and adults since 1932.

The EyeRock Concert will take place at the Hard Rock Café in Times Square on Saturday, March 29 at 9:00 pm. Tickets will be available at www.new-eyes.org beginning the first week in February.

To become an EyeRock sponsor, contact Jean Gajano of New Eyes for the Needy at jgajano@new-eyes.org, or (973) 376-4908. ■