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We’ve Got Talent

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We’ve Got Talent – Saturday, April 15


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 – Saturday, April 15
  • TIME – 7 p.m.
  • PLACE – St. Andrew United Methodist Church, West Lafayette, Indiana
  • DONATION – $25 per person; $200 per table (max. 8)

Want to PERFORM?

Talk to your church’s representative on the LUM Board of Directors.


NOT able to attend? 

If you aren’t able to attend We’ve Got Talent but wish to make a donation to the LUM Good Samaritan Fund — click the button below.

PRESENTING Sponsor 

Thanks to First Farmers Bank & Trust for their generous sponsorship of We’ve Got Talent, which benefits the LUM Good Samaritan Fund.


VOLUNTEER

If you or your group wishes to volunteer at We’ve Got Talent, click HERE.


Schedule

  • 6:30 p.m. – Registration Starts
  • 7:00 p.m. – Doors to Great Hall open, free appetizers & desserts
  • 7:45 p.m. – Opening Remarks & Introducing Panel of Judges
  • 8:00 p.m. – Performances Start
  • 9:30 p.m. – Performances Done
  • 9:45 p.m. – Awards and Wrap Up

Performers

Abi Long and Friends – Abi Long is a lifelong musician from central Indiana. She began her musical journey at a very young age singing in the church alongside her mother, a worship minister. She became a studio vocalist in her teen years recording for southern gospel and choral organizations. She attended Indiana Wesleyan University where she graduated with her B.A. in Music Therapy and was able to travel the country with various vocal groups. Abi currently lives in Lafayette where she is a music therapist as well as owns and operates Vibe Music Academy, a music lesson company in central Indiana, with her husband Tyler. She is joined by friends from the Covenant Worship Arts Ministry, West Lafayette, IN.

Briton Weise – Briton is a local musician with a passion for songwriting and live music. He is active in his local church band and plays live sets in the community when his schedule permits. Among other places, he’s played at the LUM logo launch, the LUM 50th Anniversary Celebration, and Hunger Hike.

Cathy Mindrum is a member of the music groups at St. Thomas Aquinas – The Catholic Center at Purdue. She will perform The Least of These as the soloist with the St. Thomas Aquinas Choir. Cathy has more than two decades experience as a cantor at St. Thomas Aquinas and has played leading roles in more than 25 musicals with Lafayette Civic Theater.

Damon Lincourt – Born nearly 60 years ago, Damon Lincourt has been performing in one venue or another for more than 40 of those years. This has included intercollegiate speech competitions and studying theater at Northwestern University. While he doesn’t work as an actor–but in book printing–Damon likes to say he’s been acting like he knows what he’s doing for years now and nobody’s any wiser.

Hilary Mirelez – Hilary Mirelez grew up in Ohio, where she started her vocal training with the Kettering Children’s Choir at age 8. This provided her with key professional performance opportunities that solidified her passion for singing. Upon graduating high school in 2009, she moved to Lafayette and performed as a Purduette during her time at Purdue. Today, she sings harmonies with Ebony & the Ruckus, collaborates with some of the many talented musicians in the area, and occasionally feeds her soul by sharing music on Sunday mornings at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tippecanoe County. 

Joe Vanable – Over the course of nearly 40 years, Joe taught several courses to many students in Biological Sciences. One of his quirks is that he told a Joke for the Day before each lecture, mainly to demonstrate that he was willing to risk having egg on his face. His act will include just a few of these, hopefully for your entertainment

Michelle Newell-Jackson – Country Gospel solo singer, song writer, Michelle is a maverick in the Gospel music world.  She defies any easy pigeonhole. Michelle is from Kingston, Jamaica. She  began singing at the age of six years old.  She started her professional career at age 17. Michelle has enjoyed a great career of ministering in songs. Michelle has performed at several events and churches in the state of Iowa. In November of 2014 Michelle performed at many venues in the State of Iowa including the Harmony Hawks Best of Cedar Rapids Gospel Concert held at New Covenant Bible Church. Michelle has also appeared at the “I’ll Make Me A World In Iowa” event in February of 2014 in Des Moines, Iowa. Her melodic tones are inspirational and uplifting.  Country  Gospel is her ministry. Michelle will be performing the song “Remember” that she wrote.

Terri Veglia Anderson has been singing all her life.  Brought up in an Italian household, she became interested in singing due to her father’s love of Opera.  She began classical vocal training at age 12 and continued through college. She has performed as a soloist and cantor for numerous choirs, at special events, and in multiple productions in the US (Illinois, Indiana, Georgia, Florida, New York, Missouri, Virginia) and Germany. She is thankful for the love and support of her husband and children. This performance is dedicated in memory of her father.

Tricia Sembroski – Tricia dances with the Prairie Grass Cloggers. They perform at several Indiana county fairs and festivals throughout the summer. At St. Andrew United Methodist Church, West Lafayette, Tricia serves on the finance team and sings in the choir. At LUM, she is the treasurer and volunteers with the Tax Assistance Program, Financial Assistance Program, and Jubilee Christmas. She will be dancing to the song “Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)” by John Michael Montgomery.


Panel of Judges

  • Scott Greeson – Lead guitarist for Trouble With Monday, President and Co-Founder of the Songwriter’s Association of Mid-North Indiana 
  • Tony Roswarski, Mayor of Lafayette
  • Sadie Harper Scott – President of Lafayette NAACP, Tippecanoe School Corporation Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator
  • Angel Valentin – Director of the LUM Financial Assistance Program, Wabash Township Trustee

Four Reasons to Support the Good Samaritan Fund

  1. 100% of donations to We’ve Got Talent go directly to helping families with rent and utilities.
  2. Last year we distributed almost $160,000 to local families.  We helped nearly 2,100 families avoid eviction and keep the lights on.
  3. Rents in Tippecanoe County have gone up almost 11% 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.
  4. 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.

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