DMV Helps Haiti Concert Starring Wale At The 9:30 Club

WASHINGTON, DC (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — The 9:30 Club was packed to capacity Monday night when Wale took the stage and $37,000 was raised for earthquake relief. The DMV Helps Haiti Benefit Concert also featured local artists D.C. Don Juan, Tabi Bonney, XO, Kingpen Slim, K-Beta and Phil Ade. Of course, there were many surprises, including a performance from Baltimore’s own Paula Campbell and even an impromptu performance by R&B crooner Raheem DeVaughn. The crowd was also addressed by Rev. Yearwood of the Hip Hop Caucus; Backyard Band and “The Wire”’s Anwan “Big G” Glover; Kenny Burns, host of BET’s “Celebrity Poker” and his very own “The Kenny Burns Show”; DC Councilman Harry Thomas; DC Councilman Harry Thomas and a representative from Partners in Health, one of the organizations that will receive aid from the donations raised Monday night, along with Yéle Haiti.

The DMV Helps Haiti Benefit Concert raised over $37,000 at the 9:30 Club. The total includes proceeds from ticket sales, door donations, an art auction and all food and beverage sales. The 9:30 Club employees also donated their wages for the night. The ticket site Ticketfly.com donated the ticket surcharges as well.

Artist Demont Peekaso also made a huge impact Monday evening, as he provided live art on stage while each artist performed. His paintings, which are inspired by his surroundings at the time of creation, were auctioned off for a total of $1,900.

“It’s a bit challenging to actually find words to describe the feeling inside of the 9:30 Club Monday evening,” said Yodit Gebreyes, who organized the event. “It was a beautiful night; one where people came together because of the love of music and came together to help others in need.”

About DMV Helps Haiti: Just one tweet on Twitter by Yodit Gebreyes grew into an initiative to help Haiti. Gebreyes, together with other young entrepreneurial professionals in the DMV (DC/MD/VA) area, many from Haiti or with family ties there, created DMV Helps Haiti. At first it was to be just one event at Busboys and Poets, but as the discussions continued, the group knew they would have to have a larger event, the mother of them all: the DMV Helps Haiti Benefit Concert. Gebreyes says, "Never before have I felt like I needed to do something to help. After watching the news and seeing images of people who have lost everything, I knew that it was our duty as mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, citizens, human beings to do the right thing and get involved whether it’s through volunteering, sending an email, a text message, donating to a cause, or telling a friend." –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers