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Lake Forest College student organizes Elgin concert to fight hunger

One might call Tanner Bednar's upcoming concert in Elgin "philosophy in action."

It was during a philosophy class at Lake Forest College that the 20-year-old first thought of organizing Rock the Halls, a concert Sunday benefiting the Community Crisis Center and Food for Greater Elgin.

"We were talking about hunger around the world, about how families and kids go hungry, and how dumb it is that it's still going on nowadays. Because we could stop it - and we don't," said the sophomore at Lake Forest College. "I walked out of class at 3:50 p.m., and I started making calls that night."

The Elgin native has done plenty of community service through Youth United Way, and his band, The Reverends, has participated in several benefit concerts over the years.

But Rock the Halls at Danny's Pizza in Elgin is his first solo project - one that has taken plenty of hard work over the course of the last three months.

"I haven't been getting a lot of sleep," said Bednar, who's also in student government, mock trial and cross country. "But I like doing things like this - it's another cool project to take on."

Several people helped him get it all done, he said, including family friend and Elgin City Councilman John Steffen, who gave him tips about how to get started, and Rich Wagner, owner of Rediscover Records in Elgin, who helped him secure the musical lineup.

"I think it's phenomenal," Wagner said. "It's a good way to get exposure to some very talented local bands. And obviously the cause factor, that's probably first and foremost."

Bednar's bandmate Brandon Couture said he had to do little more than design the event's poster.

"This is Tanner's baby," he said. "I kept waiting and waiting for him to call me for help, but he never did. Next thing I knew, he had all these bands picked out, and he knew where he was having it."

The concert starts at 5 p.m. at Danny's Pizza, 231 Douglas Ave., Elgin. The lineup will include The Reverends' brand of blues soul, plus four more bands playing everything from rock to indie acoustic.

Tickets are $15, $10 with a student ID. There will be unlimited pizza, soft drinks and dessert along with raffle prizes. People are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items for donation.

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