Hit the Lights

Student vocalists helped lift the spirits of sick children March 25 through an illuminating fundraiser. The student-organized show, Hit the Lights, featured performances by Dickinson’s four a cappella groups—the D-Tones, Infernos, Syrens and Octals—and a spectacular neon-light display.

Funds raised benefit Vinny’s Kids, a nonprofit founded by Vinny Cherry—son of Adjunct Faculty in Policy Studies John Cherry—that provides toys and entertainment devices for hospitalized and chronically ill children. [Story continues below.] 

Previous1of1Next

• 
  Camille Kostelac-Cherry
• 
  D-Tones
• 
  D-Tones
• 
  D-Tones
• 
  D-Tones
• 
  D-Tones
• 
  D-Tones
• 
  Syrens
• 
  Syrens
• 
  Syrens
• 
  Octals
• 
  Octals

Prev ImageNext Image

The organization began in 2004, when its young founder was 14. Vinny had been hospitalized for a week at age 7 and had been surprised to discover that the hospital did not have many usable toys, books, CDs or DVDs to amuse its young patients. Remembering that experience, he collected gently used items for the children’s ward at Harrisburg Hospital—so many, in fact, that an activities room in the children’s ward was named in his honor.

Amanda John ’12, president of the D-Tones, learned about the nonprofit last year while working on a group project for a management seminar. She organized Dickinson's first Vinny’s Kids fundraiser, Acappellooza, raising $140 for the charity. Several Dickinson students produced a video about the experience.

Speaking at the March 25 fundraiser, Vinny’s mother, Camille Kostelac-Cherry, thanked the audience for supporting her son’s cause and noted that the nearly $100 raised this semester would have a direct, positive effect on some of the area’s youngest patients. John agreed. 

“It went well,” she said, adding: “All of the groups sounded better than ever.”

By MaryAlice Bitts-Jackson
Photos by Kate Farrar ’12