Singer-Songwriter Matt Nathanson to Play Kenya Benefit Concert at Holy Cross

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) at the College of the Holy Cross is sponsoring a concert titled "IGNITE 2008", featuring Matt Nathanson and special guest Ingrid Michaelson on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. in the Hogan Campus Center Ballroom. Tickets are $10 for the Holy Cross Community and $15 for the public. Tickets will be available for Holy Cross students only on Jan. 21, 22, 23 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the Hogan Lobby. Remaining tickets will be open to the public beginning Jan. 24 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the Hogan Lobby. All of the proceeds from this concert will go to help students in need at St. Martin DePorres School for Cerebral Palsy in Nyabondo, Kenya.

The St. Martin DePorres School was started by the Franciscan Sisters of Saint Anna in 2005, after they learned that Kenyan children with cerebral palsy were struggling in conventional schools.  They decided to establish a school designed especially for children with cerebral palsy. The school continues to grow, serving many communities.

“I am thrilled to be working with FCA again this year and I hope to put on an incredibly successful benefit concert,” says Meg Grogan ’08, organizer of the event. “After the remarkable response to last year’s IGNITE 2007, which raised over $5,000, and more importantly awareness across campus, everyone is very excited for what is in store this year. We’re hoping to raise over $7,000 and completely sell out.”

Nathanson, a Massachusetts native, is a singer-songwriter and acoustic guitar player, whose music is a mix of folk and rock.  He moved to San Francisco in the early '90s and became a prominent fixture on the coffeehouse scene. Early self-released CD’s include Ernst, Not Colored too Perfect and Still Waiting for Spring. He’s played with musicians including Tori Amos, John Mayer, Pink, Guster and OAR. His sixth and latest, studio album titled, Some Mad Hope, was released in August 2007.

Michaelson is a New York-based, Indie pop singer-songwriter who plays the piano. She received her big-break when her song titled Keep Breathing was featured on the Grey’s Anatomy season finale. Another song, The way I am, was on an Old Navy commercial, which helped lead to the popularity of her latest CD, Boys and Girls.

Founded in 1954, FCA is a nationwide youth organization. FCA counts itself as the largest Christian youth organization in the U.S. The Holy Cross branch has 35 members.