Record crowd at RISE concert

The Jared Music Foundation's (https://jaredmusic.org/) annual RISE Concert on Sept. 7 had the concert's highest turnout ever with an estimated 1,000 people attending the performance in Whistle Stop Park. The Jared Music Foundation is dedicated to helping children interested in music by granting scholarships and providing instruments to help aid young musicians follow their passion.

RISE is the Foundation's main annual fundraiser. The money raised will go towards scholarships for children and teenagers who are dedicated to studying music, a type of scholarship that is not often available to young artists. This year, according to Renae Dahiya, the co-founder of the Foundation along with her husband Surinder Dahiya, the concert raised $10,000 thanks to the concert attendees, bands, and volunteers.

The Jared Music Foundation is currently accepting donations online as part of Colorado Gives, an organization that supports non-profit organizations throughout Colorado. The goal for the Jared Music Foundation is to reach $30,000 to help support programs the Foundation is planning for the future.

Applications for scholarships from the Foundation also start next month for all K-12 students interested in pursuing music, and the Foundation works closely with several music schools such as Boulder Symphony & Music Academy (https://bouldersymphony.org/), and Mojo's Music Academy (http://mojosmusicacademy.com/), based out of Longmont, which currently has thirty active scholarship recipients with more on waitlists.

Several local businesses in Niwot reached out to help support the RISE concert. The Wheel House and Niwot Wheel Works sponsored some of the Foundation's scholars along with the co-sponsors who have been supporting the organization since it started: 1914 House, Niwot Tavern, and Deborah Reed Fowler Realtor. Additionally, The Old Oak Coffeehouse, Fly Away Home Decor, We Love Trees, and Chico's Grooming Spa all donated to the scholarship fund.

In addition, many of the volunteers from the Rock & Rails summer concert series stepped up to help serve beverages and manage the recycle and compost bins at the event.

"We are very grateful for all the support from the Niwot community, the volunteers, the bands, the schools we work with, and everyone who came out in support of music education for kids," Renae Dahiya said.

Two long-time supporting bands of the Jared Music Foundation – Mojomama (https://mojomama.net/), a local band that primarily plays blues, and Soul School, which plays a multitude of different genres – performed at the event.

The last song performed by Soul School (https://soulschoollive.com/) was dedicated to Jared Lizakowski, the namesake of the Foundation, who died in a motorcycle accident when he was 19. Tea lights were passed out to the crowd to wave during the final song.