Emporia students and residents alike are invited to join together for a night of entertainment and fundraising. United Way will host a benefit concert at 7 p.m. on Nov. 16 at the Granada Theatre, 807 Commercial St.

“I chose the United Way because of the services they provide to our region,” said Rob Gilligan of Emporia Marketplace. “A lot of times with fundraising campaigns, for younger people and college students, it’s not something you can just write a check for … but maybe buying a concert ticket is a way they can give to United Way and still be able to have some fun.”

Gilligan said that he is also trying to develop other ways for people to donate to United Way, which is a funding agency that supports several non-profit organizations in an eight country region.

“Each year they do a big campaign to raise funds to help with operational expense and cost for a bunch of different things,” Gilligan said. “(This concert) will give us an opportunity to raise some awareness about United Way, and it’s a good way for people to come together and enjoy the entertainment.”

Gilligan said that around 200 people attended the concert last year and they seemed to enjoy the entertainment. He said he hopes for 400 attendees this year.

The White Ghost Shivers of Austin, Texas will provide the entertainment. Gilligan said the group is hard to place into one specific genre.

“Hot jazz, early soul, a lot of vaudeville,” Gilligan said of the group. “It’s really hard to call them a band … really, they are a show. They are an entire performance piece. They’re an experience.”

Erin Mullane, senior theater major, said she has seen the group perform several times and that they are a nice change from mainstream music.

“I think it’s bold that they are a band that plays in the 20s and 30s ragtime jazz style,” Mullane said. “I like that they expose the audience to a different kind of sound.”

Adam Helmer, junior theater major said he is looking forward to the experience.

“I hope to get to see an amazing concert and to learn how much money is raised from this event to benefit United Way,” Helmer said.

Emporia will be the White Ghost Shivers’ first stop for the Kansas tour. They will also perform with The Skirts, a folk band from Chase County.

Tickets can be purchased for $15 at the Granada Box office, Sweet Granada, Granada Coffee Company, United Way, the Emporia Gazette and on campus, and 100 percent of the profits will go to United Way.

Khaili Scarbrough