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Ridgefield Teens Hold Wwdd Benefit Concert

RIDGEFIELD, Conn. -- Ridgefield teens hosted a benefit concert for the What Would Daniel Do (WWDD) Foundation.

Ridgefield teens hosted a benefit concert for the What Would Daniel Do Foundation.

Ridgefield teens hosted a benefit concert for the What Would Daniel Do Foundation.

Photo Credit: Contributed

The foundation honors the memory of Daniel Barden, a victim of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

The WWDD concert took place at Scotts Ridge Middle School. The benefit raised more than $4,000 at the event, which featured four musical acts with award-winning young performers.

Headlining the event was Ridgefield’s Marmalade Sky. All proceeds from the concert, raffle and bake sale were donated to the WWDD Foundation, a non-profit organization that funds programs that build a sense of community and reduce social isolation.

Amber Schaper, lead singer of Marmalade Sky, organized the WWDD event to pay tribute to Daniel, a close family friend and victim of the Newtown shooting last year.

“I am so happy and grateful to everyone who came out and supported us,” Schaper said. “It was a great afternoon, and so many people gave so much, from the raffle items to the bake sale."

Schaper said "the best part was that my Uncle Mark was able to come," referring to Mark Barden, Daniel’s father.

The Barden family-endorsed WWDD Foundation honors Daniel's memory with the goal of inspiring others to share his kindness, compassion, selflessness, gratitude and appreciation of life, according to a release. 

The band Marmalade Sky consists of five musicians ages 12-14, who play classic and contemporary rock. Marmalade Sky won the Ridgefield BandJam competition in 2012 and 2013. 

The concert also included a performance by Jared Bovine, a 15-year-old pianist, and Bluegrass duo G Rockwell (banjo) and Natasha Kaluzynski (fiddle). Amber also performed a selection of songs, including one that she and Marmalade Sky guitar player Jason Bangser composed especially for the WWDD event.

For more information, or to make a donation to WWDD, residents can visit the What Would Daniel Do website

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