PEACE — A Christmas Music Experience, featuring Jill Miller and her band, will begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and students and are available at the Friendship Haven Welcome Center or at the door the night of the concert.

This is the third annual concert hosted as a fundraiser for Friendship Haven’s Good Samaritan Fund, said Denise Halverson, director of engagement at Friendship Haven.

The Good Samaritan Fund helps Friendship Haven residents who can no longer afford the entire cost of their care.

“It’s an important mission because we have residents, who sometimes through no fault of their own, exhaust their resources for their living expenses,” Halverson said. “So the Good Samaritan Fund supplements their resources so that they’re able to continue to live at Friendship Haven for their lifetimes.”

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Armona Redenius, director of the Sonshine Singers, will direct the group in a fundraiser concert to benefit Friendship Haven’s Good Samaritan Fund on Tuesday evening.

Tuesday’s concert will have something for everyone, Halverson said.

“It is a family-friendly event and we have so many opportunities for wonderful entertainment here in Fort Dodge, and I know that people this time of year have to make choices and we hope that they’ll come out for this because it is not only a wonderful night of entertainment, but also supports a very important cause,” she said. “And there are so many community connections to Friendship Haven and our campus that I just know that people will really enjoy this concert.”

New this year will be the Sonshine Singers community chorus joining Miller throughout the two-hour concert filled with holiday classics and original music performed in a variety of musical styles.

In addition to the concert being a fundraiser for the Good Samaritan Fund, Halverson hopes it also helps build more relationships between Friendship Haven and the Fort Dodge community.

“Although there are many connections to Friendship Haven, there are many in the community who really don’t know a lot about Friendship Haven, so this is a wonderful opportunity to hear the Friendship Haven story and to perhaps consider sharing their own time, talent or treasure with Friendship Haven,” she said.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Denise Halverson, center, director of community engagement at Friendship Haven, sings with the Sonshine Singers on Sunday afternoon during a rehearsal at Decker Auditorium.

Halverson thanks the Fort Dodge community for its support during these events.

“We’re so grateful for this being a fundraiser and for experiencing the support of the community, our community sponsors, our community talent,” she said. “Mere words alone cannot express our attitude.”

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
The Sonshine Singers rehearse for the ”PEACE – A Christmas Music Experience” concert Sunday afternoon at Decker Auditorium.