Beach, Boogie & BBQ event in Sumter to raise money for YES Scholarship Fund

If you like music and helping kids out, then you may want to consider attending Beach, Boogie and BBQ at La Piazza in Downtown Sumter at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 15.

For just a $5 donation, patrons can come see The Footnotes, a Sumter original band, with returning members Hugh Hodge (singer), Charlie Stafford (guitarist) and Mark Bradley (lead singer), who have been away from the band recently until now.

"We all grew up in Sumter and played all through high school and college," Footnotes trombone player and band promoter Steve Morris said. "We didn't play for 28 years (after that), but we've been back together for 20 years. It's been fun being back together and being able to play music with people you grew up with. We started playing at the Teenage Canteen in 1967, which was a Community Center thing with local bands."

The Footnotes are now in the South Carolina Beach Music Hall of Fame.

Beer, wine and BBQ will also be available for purchase, and all proceeds will go toward the Youth Education Scholarship Fund, which makes it possible for underprivileged children to attend Sumter Opera House concert programming.

"To raise money for these kids is a way to give back," Morris said. "It felt like the perfect fit. If it goes good, we'll do it again next year. I hope people come and have a good time."

Outside food and drinks, coolers and chairs are not permitted at the event.