Streaming Central Florida’s Performing Artists

We know Knights are generous and actively support their local communities and UCF, so in support of #GivingTuesdayNow, a global day to celebrate the creative ways humankind has been helping each other during the pandemic, we asked the Knights community to share positive stories of themselves or other Knights and how they’re exemplifying community service during the global pandemic. And Knight Nation delivered!

Here is the story of alumnus Rich Charron ’08:

“Nicholson School of Communication and Media graduates Rich Charron ’08 and Kenny Howard ’10 are producing and hosting a weekly streaming event featuring Central Florida performing artists who are currently out of work and struggling to make ends meet during the crisis. Artists are interviewed live during the stream, and donations are collected for the Central Florida Performing Artist Relief Fund. These donations are distributed to the many qualifying local artists who are unable to work and collect an income at this time. Aside from providing many with some financial assistance, we also recognize the absolute need that the artists have to perform and be productive during this shutdown.

Further, we believe it imperative to help maintain the relationship between the performance artists and the audience, a connection that has also been broken during this crisis. Both Charron and Howard are fortunate to have been able to keep their day jobs, but are essentially spending the bulk of the remaining time creating, producing, and hosting this live YouTube stream every Saturday at 5:30.“

While we are inspired by these generous acts of kindness shared with us, we hope it inspires you make a positive change in the lives of others. You can show your generosity in a variety of ways during #GivingTuesdayNow, whether it’s helping a neighbor, advocating for an issue, sharing a skill or giving to causes. Every act of compassions counts.

If you feel compelled to support the UCF community during this time, there are various ways to get involved:

Make a gift to support student scholarships or faculty research
Write a note of appreciation to a Knight Nurse
Attend a virtual event
Sign up to be a volunteer with UCF Alumni
Donate non-perishables to the Knights Helping Knights Pantry (Pantries located on the main campus, Rosen campus and Medical City).