Money Raised to Benefit Community FoodBank of New Jersey
On Oct. 19, McCarter & English’s in-house band “Amperband” will be performing at the Eighth Annual “Law Rocks” New York City battle of the bands charity event. The firm is also a sponsor of the event, and with each band committed to raising money for a charity of its choice, Amperband is raising money for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), a non-profit with which the firm has a longstanding relationship.
Law Rocks raises money for the selected charities from its event ticket sales and individual donations, and as a participant, Amperband committed to raising $5,000, but has already more than doubled its goal, having raised more than $12,000 to date.
“We are thrilled to be able to participate in this great event and raise money for the CFBNJ, a charity really near and dear to the firm’s heart; we’re really playing for them,” said Alex Macdonald, McCarter & English Chief Strategy Officer and band vocalist. “We’re also thankful for the firm’s support. We’re amazed at how much money has been raised so far and we just want to spread the word and get as many donations as possible. The 15 minutes of fame is fun for the band members, but the impact of the donations for people who are food insecure is really where we want to shine the spotlight.”
Amperband is a relatively new firm band that made its debut in April at a partner retreat in Nashville, where the group performed for its colleagues at Johnny Cash’s Bar & BBQ. The band name is a play on words with a nod to the ampersand in the firm’s logo and symbolizes the firm’s culture of cohesion. The composition of the band also speaks to the firm’s unity across offices and departments, with attorney and non-attorney members alike representing from five different offices and numerous practice groups. The band is comprised of bass guitarist and Business Litigation partner Steven Wood of Wilmington, Del.; rhythm guitarist and Intellectual Property partner Vadim Cherkasov of Philadelphia; rhythm guitarist and Intellectual Property partner John Isacson of Washington, DC; drummer and Business Litigation partner Joseph Scholz of New York; and from Newark, NJ, lead guitarist and Labor & Employment partner Thomas Doherty, vocalist and Chief Strategy Officer Alex Macdonald; and vocalist and Events Manager Alyse Pashman. The band plays mostly 80s and 90s pop rock, featuring songs from The White Stripes, Journey, Lit and more.
“It is quite an honor for Amperband to play at Law Rocks for the benefit of the food bank,” said Renee Helfenstein, Senior Director of Special Events & Community Outreach for the CFBNJ. “Every dollar donated to CFBNJ provides 3 meals to those in need in our community; such an outpouring of support goes so far. We are very grateful for Amperband and the firm’s support, and extend a sincere thank you to all that have donated as well.”
Law Rocks NYC tickets can be purchased at https://lawrocks.org/nyc and additional donations can also be made via the website. For both ticket purchases and charitable donations, donors can select “Amperband for Community Food Bank of New Jersey” or a band/charity of choice. Amperband hopes to bring in many more unique donations prior to the event, as Law Rocks also offers a Heart & Hustle Award at this year’s event; donating an extra $5,000 to the charity supported by the band with the most unique donations received.
The Community FoodBank of New Jersey is the largest anti-hunger and anti-poverty organization in New Jersey. A member of Feeding America®, it has been delivering food, help and hope statewide for more than 45 years.