Pearl Jam ‘Home Shows’ not just about music, but making a difference
Aug 8, 2018, 2:41 PM | Updated: Aug 9, 2018, 8:00 am
Fans with general admission tickets were already lined up Wednesday morning to get a good spot for tonight’s highly anticipated Pearl Jam concert at Safeco Field, the first of the band’s two shows to help raise money for King County’s homeless population.
The second show is on Friday.
In January, the band announced it would pledge a minimum of $1 million of its own money toward local homelessness initiatives in hopes the donation would encourage more businesses, individuals and organizations to join in.
Their goal is to raise a minimum of $10 million this year in the initiative called “The Home Shows,” a program that’s part of Pearl Jam’s Vitalogy Foundation to fight homelessness in King County.
So far, more than 140 businesses, individuals, government agencies, and foundations have banded together to help devise a solution.
For instance, from July 31 through August 12, every dollar donated through the Starbucks mobile app or online will be matched two to one, up to $500,000, by the Starbucks Foundation.
More than 80 Seattle and King County restaurants will donate a portion of their sales Wednesday during The Home Shows Restaurant Night. See a list of participating restaurants here.
Other sponsors and partners of the initiative include United Way of King County, Seattle Foundation, Seattle Mariniers, Amazon, Microsoft, Zillow, Expedia, Microsoft, Alaska Airlines, the Seahawks and dozens of others.
The band also created an advisory group of “issue experts,” — from funders to homeless service providers to those with lived experience — to research programs to address homelessness in a variety of ways.
With the concerts being held at Safeco Field, nearly 100,000 fans will be able to attend. And many of those fans, whether they’re attending the concerts or not, have been waiting in long lines to get Pearl Jam merchandise ever since a huge tent was set up next to Safeco Monday.
Why such a large display of products? Proceeds from those will also go to programs to help the homeless.
The band has not yet announced specific beneficiaries of the money, but was expected to some time around the concert dates.
No money to donate to the cause yourself? The band has also put together ways you can help those living on the street without donating money, suggesting volunteer work and other ways to take action.
The Home Shows mark Pearl Jam’s first hometown appearance in five years.
By: Colleen West, KIRO 7
