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Presented by ����Թ� Foundation, Acorn Alley and Main Street ����Թ�

Platinum-selling group O.A.R. has been added to the Sept. 8 Centennial Campaign Concert at ����Թ�, joining Grammy Award-winning artists Sheryl Crow and Los Lonely Boys. The three acts will perform at ����Թ� State’s Dix Stadium.

In addition, the ����Թ� Foundation has announced a partnership with local ����Թ� business leaders to present the Centennial Campaign Concert. The concert has been organized to celebrate the successful end of the Centennial Campaign, which raised $265 million toward the completion of university capital projects and secured nearly 300 endowed scholarships for ����Թ� State students.

The festivities will begin with a tailgate event from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the stadium grounds featuring food and local vendors. The concert, the first at Dix Stadium in more than 20 years, kicks off at 6 p.m. with Los Lonely Boys, whose debut single “Heaven” earned them a 2005 Grammy for Best Pop Performance. Next up will be O.A.R., a band that has transformed itself from local Ohio State University bandmates to Billboard chartbusters with songs like “Shattered (Turn the Car Around)” and “Love and Memories.” Topping off the evening is singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow, who has won nine Grammy Awards.

“The Centennial Campaign was an enormous success, and it was important to us to involve our donors, the community, students, faculty and staff in this milestone accomplishment,” says Gene Finn, vice president for institutional advancement at ����Թ� State and executive director of the ����Թ� Foundation. “We’re excited to announce O.A.R., a band that is very popular with our students, has been added to the concert. Also, our partnership with Acorn Alley and Main Street ����Թ� is a perfect town-and-gown initiative.”
Michelle Hartman, vice president of RLB Phoenix Properties, which includes Acorn Alley, says, “We’re so excited to be a part of this event and bring visitors back to visit old favorites and new additions to downtown ����Թ�. It is a great opportunity to show off downtown ����Թ� and support scholarships.”

Heather Malarcik, the executive director of Main Street ����Թ�, adds, “Our members are proud to be part of the celebration and to be part of the renaissance of downtown ����Թ�.”

A portion of ticket sales for the Centennial Campaign Concert will benefit the Campaign for Change, a scholarship for ����Թ� State students. Tickets are available for the general public ($35 and $50) at . ����Թ� State student tickets ($20 and $30) can be purchased at the ����Թ� State Ticket Office in the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center with a valid ����Թ� State student ID.

From now through Sept. 4, all ����Թ� faculty, staff and alumni will have the opportunity to buy advance tickets at half price. See more information about the offer under the "News Briefs" section in today's e-Inside.

For complete concert information, visit www.kent.edu/advancement/centennialcampaignconcert.