Player’s Pub coordinates Red Cross spring benefit

The Player’s Pub was host to “Rock for the Red” on Sunday, drawing an almost-packed house merely 30 minutes into the show.

The event, a major part of the Red Cross’ spring fundraising campaign, brought together bands such as Gypsy Revival and Compass Rose to help raise money for the nonprofit organization. Flyers encouraged a $5 donation upon entering the venue.

Red Cross Executive Director Sue Gulley stressed how important fundraising is for their relief efforts
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“A big misconception with the Red Cross is that people think it’s funded by the federal government,” Gulley said. “It’s not. We raise the money on our own, and that’s why events like these are really important to us.”

Gulley said the ultimate goal for the entire campaign, known popularly as “Heroes for the American Red Cross,” is $75,000. This money is used specifically to aid local disaster relief efforts and assist families of military members.

Marcus Debro, a member of the Board of Directors for the Red Cross and a member of the event’s planning committee, said it was a “tremendous opportunity to help the Red Cross help other people.”

“I was born here and raised here in Bloomington,” he said. “Now I have the opportunity to give back. And this event brings together different people of different taste.”

Among the throngs of different people at Player’s Pub was Amy Thomas. A Bloomington resident and IU alumna, Thomas said she hoped the evening would simply bring “good music and good times.”

She first heard about the event from participating last year in Ride for the Red, another part of the Red Cross’ spring fundraising campaign, which features a motorcycle ride through several Indiana counties. The ride honors military heroes.

This year’s ride, the second annual, will take place May 19.

Apart from the Red Cross’ organizers and attendees, the owner of the Player’s Pub said she felt a personal connection to fundraising efforts.

Hoping to maintain her late husband and previous owner’s vision for the pub, Mary Hill said she felt helping out the Red Cross was a “win-win.”

“The whole concept of a pub is to be about the community, the atmosphere,” Hill said. “It’s supposed to bring a healing feeling, and we were approached about it shortly after the tornado. It was a perfect fit.”