A local fall entertainment staple will raise money for a project at Hospice of Windsor and Essex County Inc.
Caesars Windsor's Concerts for a Cure series returns in November with five all-ages shows. A portion of the proceeds will go toward Hospice.
Caesars Windsor Manager of Entertainment Rakiesha Jones said that the popular concert series provides a big boost to local groups.
"Since 2012, due to the success of our ticket sales during the fall months, the Concerts For a Cure campaign has raised over $240,000 for our local organizations," said Jones.
The funds raised through concert tickets will support the Hospice's new "wind phone" project. A gazebo has been built at the Hospice's Windsor campus, equipped with an unconnected landline telephone.
Hospice Executive Director Katharen Bortolin said users can have a private conversation with anyone they choose.
"There's no one on the other end. It's whoever you choose to be on the other end," said Bortolin. "So it gives a face for people to have conversations, to pick up the phone, to share words maybe left unsaid, or say 'I'm thinking about you'."
The concept began in Iwate Prefecture, Japan, as a way for loved ones to communicate with those who have passed away. It started as a single phone installed by a man in 2010 who wanted to talk to a deceased relative. It was opened to the public after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster to allow grief-stricken people to communicate with lost loved ones.
Since then, wind phones have been installed in Europe, Canada, and the United States.
The Concerts for a Cure series consists of legendary Detroit rocker Alice Cooper on Friday night, country-pop performer Mitchell Tenpenny on Saturday night, Canadian country artist Josh Ross on November 14, award-winning country veteran Lee Brice on November 19, and Canadian artists Dean Brody and the Reklaws on November 20.
Tickets are available at the Caesars Windsor box office.
