The Beach Boys concert benefits the Regional Food Bank kids’ programs

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Beach Boys, America’s Band, features Mike Love and Bruce Johnston and will make a stop in Oklahoma City as part of their World Tour to help raise money for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s Food for Kids programs.

The concert will be held at Riverwind Casino at 7 p.m. Oct. 21 and net proceeds will go to fight childhood hunger in Oklahoma.

Tickets go on sale Friday, June 30, and can be purchased online at Riverwind.com, by phone at (405) 322-6464, or in person at Riverwind Casino Box Office, located at 1544 Highway 9 in Norman.  Surf Rock Icon Dean Torrence, of Jan and Dean, will guest star with The Beach Boys.

“This marks the first time the band has played Riverwind since 2007 and our second year in a row to raise money for this worthwhile cause,” said John Occhipinti, Beach Boys producer and Edmond resident. “Last year’s benefit show was a sell-out and raised $33,407, the equivalent of more than 167,000 meals, to help the Regional Food Bank fight childhood hunger in our state.”

One in four children in Oklahoma struggles with hunger.  Every $200 raised through The Beach Boys concert will support a child in the Food for Kids Backpack Program for an entire school year. Last school year, the Regional Food Bank provided millions of meals to chronically hungry children in central and western Oklahoma through its Food for Kids childhood hunger programs, which includes the Backpack Program, School Pantry Program, Kids Cafe and Summer Feeding.

“Food is the most essential school supply,” said Katie Fitzgerald, chief executive officer of the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.  “Without food, children cannot learn, grow and thrive in school. That’s why the donation from The Beach Boys concert is so important – it helps us provide hope, in the form of food, to children who have inconsistent access to food in our state.”

Established in 1980, the Regional Food Bank is the largest private, domestic hunger-relief organization in the state of Oklahoma. Last fiscal year, the nonprofit distributed 52 million pounds of food and products through a network of more than 1,300 schools and charitable feeding programs in 53 central and western Oklahoma counties.

“As one of the first bands to play Riverwind, we are excited to again have the opportunity to play this great venue,” said Occhipinti.  “We are inviting the community together for a night of ‘Fun, Fun, Fun’ music while helping raise much-needed funds to fight childhood hunger in our great state. Oklahomans are second to none when it comes to helping others.”

For more information about The Beach Boys concert, email [email protected] or call the Riverwind Box Office at (405) 322-6464.  For more information about the Regional Food Bank, visit regionalfoodbank.org or call (405) 972-1111.