National Life Group's Do Good Fest Benefit Raises Funds For Vermont Flood Victims

On Saturday evening, individuals from various regions and states converged on Vermont’s capital, contributing $414,220 to the VT Flood Response and Recovery Fund. The festival, put on by National Life Group, originally planned with a different agenda, was swiftly transformed into a benefit concert in the wake of the devastating floods that swept across the state earlier in the week.

In reporting by WCAX, Mehran Assadi, Chairman, CEO and President of National Life Group told them, “On Wednesday morning, we were sitting around saying ‘what the heck are we going to do?’” Assadi continued, “All of a sudden, one of our teammates said ‘you know what? Let’s do a fundraiser... let’s turn this into a major event in Vermont.’ Everyone is trying to figure out how can we help - how we can be part of the solution, and here we are, 72 hours later, raising money for our neighbors.”

This immediate response led to the first major fundraising effort, featuring live, up-close, and acoustic performances by Burlington’s All Night Boogie Band, along with well-known artists Fastball, lovelytheband, and the Plain White T’s. Both WCAX Channel 3 CBS and Star 92.9 FM broadcasted the event live on television and radio, while a worldwide livestream was available via the Do Good Fest website and WCAX’s 3 News Now 24/7 streaming channel.

The entirety of the proceeds from this event will be channeled towards the Vermont Community Foundation’s VT Flood Response & Recovery Fund 2023. With over 35 years of experience managing community charity and investment, the Vermont Community Foundation is a recognized and trusted non-profit organization. Dan Smith, the organization’s president and CEO, expressed that the fund will significantly aid Vermont in reconstructing and unifying during this challenging period of need.

“Every dollar makes a difference that comes through this fund,” said Smith in the reporting by WCAX. “These are the moments when Vermont shines. We step up for each other. Help is a phone call away, help is across the fence, help is the next door over... it’s part of our culture, and always has been. It was during Irene, it was during the pandemic, and it is today.”

The VT Flood Response & Recovery Fund 2023 is open for donations at all times and is currently operating.