Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets—we’ll see you this Friday night (April 11, 2025) for an unforgettable evening of fun and talent in support of a great cause!
Didn’t get a ticket? You can still be part of the impact by donating to the LUM Good Samaritan Fund—which provides emergency financial assistance to local families in need. Your generosity helps prevent evictions, keep utilities on, and offer hope during life’s toughest moments. 💛
Fundraising Event Benefiting the LUM Good Samaritan Fund
Join us for We’ve Got Talent— an amateur talent competition judged by a panel of local experts. The event features a live show plus refreshments & other surprises.
The best part is that 100% of the proceeds from this event go to the LUM Good Samaritan Fund, an emergency financial assistance fund that supports local families & individuals in need.
Details are as follows:
DATE – Friday, April 11
TIME – Doors open – 5:30, show starts 6:30
PLACE – St. Andrew United Methodist Church, West Lafayette, Indiana
DONATION – $35 per person; $280 per table (max. 8)
Onyx Uzomah returns to We’ve Got Talent after taking both the Champion trophy and the Audience Choice Award for most creative performance in 2024. Onyx transplanted to the Greater Lafayette area from Los Angeles County in the summer of 2008. After completing her master’s degree at Purdue University, she kind of forgot to move back home and has made a life for herself here amongst wonderful people. She’s sung in some type of choir or group since she was 5yrs old, loving the experience of making beautiful harmonic sounds with other singers. Currently, you can find her regularly singing with the All Campus and Community Chorale (AC3) at Purdue Musical Organizations; otherwise, she’s usually that person at the red light harmonizing to whatever may be on her radio at the moment.
Kory Pritchett returns to We’ve Got Talent after taking both the Runner Up trophy and the Audience Choice Award for most entertaining performance in 2024. Kory first started playing guitar and piano as a teen. Since then, he’s spent the last fifteen years leading praise bands and performing at churches. In addition to his full time job with the Purdue department of Engineering Education, Kory is also a part-time associate pastor at First United Methodist Church.
The Lafayette Flute Choir was founded in 1974. For 50 years they’ve been organizing ensemble performances of music written for the flute. Their members range from serious high school students to retired music teachers. They perform everything from baroque to jazz, playing at local farmers markets, the Lafayette Hymn Fest, nursing homes, churches, weddings, private events, and more.
Cy Rangel, originally from Northwest Indiana, started playing alto and tenor sax in the 7th grade. Influenced by horn bands like Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire, and Tower of Power, Cy enjoys many genres of music. His playlist today contains a lot from smooth jazz saxophonists Dave Koz, Richard Elliot, Gerald Albright, and Grover Washington, but also classic bands like Average White Band, Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder, Wings, and The Doobie Brothers. All his life he has mingled with area bands. Before moving to West Lafayette, Cy spent 10 years with a brass driven NW Indiana Blues band, Lake Effect. Currently, Cy works for Purdue University managing an assortment of construction projects. You will find Cy and his wife Diana typically playing for the St Thomas Aquinas Music Ministry at the Sunday 9AM mass. Cy and Diana, married for 41 years, have 3 adult daughters, one son in law, and one beautiful granddaughter.
Sharon McKnight is a local folk musician with a long history of performing at local festivals and concerts. She began performing at Minneapolis coffee houses in the 1960s. When she moved to Indiana in the 80s, she got interested in the musical influences of bluegrass, Appalachian mountain music, Irish folk tunes, and more, incorporating them all into her repertoire. Sharon is a self-described signer-songwriter who has produced two solo CDs – My Backyard and Factory Girl, and founded the folk group The Vagabond.
Diane Shockey grew up in a musical family and enjoys many different styles of music. Locally, she has participated in the Lafayette Master Choral and several church groups. She currently sings with the worship band at Purdue Christian Campus House.
Desmine Robinson is a Michigan Native and is a thespian, writer, educator, activist and mental health advocate who will treat us to his spoken word poetry. Desmine’s career encompasses 10 years of serving low-income, first-generation pre-college students, and supporting students through both high school and college graduation. Desmine believes his purpose is to help his community love themselves and each other, while also preserving his own health. He fell in love with writing in middle school and has experience performing original pieces in theatre, competitions and forums that focus on current issues.
Bruce Ward will bring his break dancing game to We’ve Got Talent. Bruce is a part-time student at Purdue University, where he is interested in environmental sciences and data science. He is in his second year participating with the Purdue BoilerBreakers and the Purdue Music Gaming Club. He has also enjoyed acting with the Civic Theater of Greater Lafayette and The Acorn Players of Lafayette. Bruce is a member of Central Presbyterian Church and serves on their board of Deacons.
Rob Ford was a four-year member of the Purdue Glee Club and has performed in numerous Lafayette and Indianapolis Civic Theater shows. He is married to Lindsay with three children: Katie (18), Claire (15) and Ryan (13).
Sarah Joy Shockey is a writer, illustrator, and comedian who has performed at The Second City, iO Chicago, and many festivals across the country. Her unique style and character voices served her well on the podcast Marty & Sarah Love Wrestling, where she met and married her now husband Marty. She currently coaches and performs with the improv team Huge if True in Janesville, Wisconsin and on occasion with Deep Schwa in Chicago, IL.
Panel of Judges
Kitty Campbell –Executive Director of Leadership Lafayette. Kitty studied music at Millikin University, is a local jazz musician, and is passionate about the Arts.
Tim Brouk–As a journalist, Tim has covered the arts and entertainment scene in Lafayette for 25 years, with both the Journal & Courier and Based in Lafayette, and performed in numerous rock bands over the years.
Angel Valentín – Director of the LUM Financial Assistance Program, Wabash Township Trustee
Vickie Maris – Singer-songwriter and recording artist, Vickie Maris, returns to the Delphi Opera House with her band on April 12, 2025, and the Purdue Summer Concert Series in July. Her latest singles are on Spotify, YouTube and other directories.
100% of donations to We’ve Got Talent goes directly to helping families with rent and utilities.
In 2024, the LUM Good Samaritan Fund provided financial assistance for essential needs which includes averting eviction, utility disconnects and other crises to 1,168 households, 1,780 times, totaling $115,301.35.
Rents in Indiana have gone up almost 35% since 2019. The vast majority of very low-income households in our county pay more than half their income in rent. That means that a single unexpected bill can easily force them to choose between paying their rent and buying food.
Most important – our clients are real people. They might be your neighbors, people from your church, or the person who bags your groceries. They might be an aide at your child’s school or your waiter the next time you go out to eat. They work hard, and just need a little help to get by. YOU can make all the difference.
