Marc Broussard Concert at Grant Street

Marc Broussard returns to his hometown this holiday season for a special concert benefiting
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana.
Bring your friends and family and join us for a fantastic musical event benefiting a great cause!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Grantstreet Dancehall
Doors open at 7:30 pm. Show starts at 8 pm.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the door the evening of the show.
Click here to purchase tickets in advance.
For more information, contact Alyson Haymark at 337.269.0454.

Acadiana Music - Marc gives back
by Cody Daigle
cdaigle@theadvertiser.com

His career has been indefatigable. Since his first album, 2004’s Carencro, gained him a national audience, Marc Broussard has worked his way up the music industry’s ladder, earning a privileged place among Southern-flecked blues rockers.

He has toured with giants — Maroon 5, Dave Matthews Band, Willie Nelson, O.A.R. and Bonnie Raitt, among others. He’s worked with contemporary stars like Leanne Rimes and Sara Bareilles. And he continues to play for ever-growing crowds of fans across the country.

But Broussard’s latest concert in Acadiana has only superficial things in common with the shows that audiences elsewhere cheer through. The songs are there, yes. But his concert Wednesday at Grant Street Dancehall isn’t about career advancement or fan adoration.

It’s all about making a difference.

Marc Broussard returns to Acadiana this week to perform a special one-night benefit concert Dec. 23 at Grant Street Dancehall. The evening opens with a performance by Joe Stark of Sons of William at 8 p.m. Broussard takes the stage at 9 p.m.

The concert was put together as a fundraising venture to support the important one-to-one mentoring programs provided by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana.
For Broussard, the endeavor is a personal one.

“I was talking to a teacher friend of mine and she was telling about some of the problems they were facing, Broussard said. “And I decided to do something about it. I wanted to mentor some young folks, and yet I had no idea how to go about doing that.”

“So I reached out to Big Brothers Big Sisters.”

The one-on-one mentoring programs offerd by Big Brothers Big Sisters, the staple program that most people associate with the organization, pairs young people between the ages of 6 and 15 from primarily single-parent homes with community volunteers. The volunteers, or “Bigs,” spend one-on-one time with the child at least twice a month for a year.

It’s a program that has changed the lives of thousands of children across the country and has made monumental differences for children in Acadiana.

“A couple of months ago we got a phone call from Marc saying that he wanted to offer his support, in whatever way possible, to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana,” said Alyson Haymark, development director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana. “He has attended some of our Be Big Orientations for potential volunteers to meet the people, learn more about our mentoring program and help us to recruit volunteers.”

“I’m really looking forward to working with them throughout the year,” Broussard said, “as well as in the future. Forever hopefully.”

Broussard’s enthusiasm for what he saw happening at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana, Haymark says, set the ball rolling for the concert.

“The concert evolved from his desire to assist our agency not only with volunteer recruitment and an awareness of our mentoring programs,” Haymark said,” but also with fundraising to support our efforts and serve even more children in the Acadiana area.”

Broussard isn’t alone in advocating the Big Brothers Big Sisters experience. His manager, Ross duPre, was also a Big.

“Volunteering as a Big Brother was such a special experience for me, “duPre said. “I was 23 years old at the time and felt like I was contributing for the first time in my life.

“The impact that you’re able to have on a child by spending a few quality hours a week with them is simply incredible.”

Broussard will be lending his time and talent on Dec. 23 for fans of his music and of the organization’s charitable work in the community. And that generosity is something Broussard hopes gets repaid by those who come out and enjoy the concert.

“If you have four extra hours a month, you should volunteer,” Broussard said. “You can make a difference in a young person’s life. Donate time.”

Aaron and Travis

Aaron and Travis were matched in the spring of 2001. Aaron was a junior Sports Medicine major at ULL while Travis was an 11 year old student at Alice Boucher elementary. The match was a hit from the start as they had a lot in common. Travis was very intelligent and respectful.

He was also very timid and shy which made him very vulnerable to the negative influences in his neighborhood. Travis’ mother was single and raising to three kids on her own. She desperately wanted her oldest son to be successful and was searching for a positive male role-model.

The two did an array of activities together: playing basketball, video games, eating out, family outings, and attending church. The volunteer felt it was important to deposit seeds of education into his little and allowed him to sit in on a few of his college courses, attend campus events, and meet fraternity brothers. Aaron sponsored and instructed a youth leadership organization called the Junior Kappa League which trained young men in fraternity ideas and morals. Travis enjoyed two years of membership in the organization. His shy demeanor would begin to evolve as the Junior Kappas performed step shows in front of hundreds of college students.

Aaron recalls his little brother’s 12th birthday as monumental. He attended the party and had purchased a used video game as a gift. Later that night, his mentee would call crying feeling very emotional. When asked what was bothering him, young Travis stated, “I called my dad about three times about coming to my party and he never showed. Not only did you come, but you also brought a gift and I just wanted to say, I LOVE YOU!”

The volunteer was overwhelmed with emotions and in his search for the proper response, he simply stated, “I love you to.”

The relationship would not be the same after this point. Travis was officially family and years later would serve as an usher in his big brothers wedding. A few years passed and Aaron was now celebrating the birth of his first son. Now supporting a family and his little brother starting high school, the two would drift apart and eventually loose contact with each other.

Aaron still wanted to work with youth in the limited time he had and volunteered with a local sorority to choreograph the talent show for their bouillon which highlights youth achievements. In 2008, to Aaron’s surprise, one of the accomplishes participants was no other than his little brother. Travis extended and invitation for Aaron and his wife to sit at his table and would not take no for an answer. The volunteer felt honored and attended.

Under the signal of a trumpeter the distinguished young men entered the ball clothed in tuxedos and top hats. As Travis made his grand stroll, an announcer began to list his accomplishments: 3.5 overall high school GPA, graduating 12th in his high school class, receiving varsity letters in football, baseball, soccer, concert band member, member of who’s who amongst high school students, and religious counselor of his local church.

Travis would then list Aaron Williams as the most influential person of his life. Aaron was in disbelief. He could have never imagined that the once shy little boy he met a few years ago, could accomplish so much and that the small amount of time they spent together meant so much.

Aaron was so touched by the experience that he would later return to the agency as an employee.