These girls will be right in the middle of this country party.
“Maddie and Tae,” the country western duo whose debut single, “Girl in a Country Song” reached No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart last year, will headline this year’s Hoedown For Hope fundraiser for the American Cancer Society March 21 at the Kilohana Luau Pavilion.
The seventh annual event raises funds for the nonprofit using a Western flair, and the Nashville singers will be accompanied by the local country act, “Not My First Rodeo.”
“It’s a great cause and it’s a great party,” said Yvette Sahut, Hoedown for Hope’s event co-chair.
The festivities kick off at 5 p.m. with food, dancing, games, a silent auction and music. The celebration will also auction off a Smart car. Guests are encouraged to dress up in cowboy and cowgirl outfits in keeping with the Western theme.
Tickets are $125 for individual and sponsor patients, $1,500 for a table of 10.
Tickets for $1,000 are also available to Yellow Hibiscus Members who will receive a special V.I.P gift bag with treats from the event’s sponsors, prominent seating at the concert close to the stage, a V.I.P tent, which will include a special bar with two free drink tickets, special pupus created specifically for them, two Hoedown for Hope T-shirts and recognition in the celebration’s program, marketing ads and website.
Proceeds benefit the ACS patient care and aid in the construction of the Hope Lodge on Oahu, where patients will be able to receive treatment.
The organization hopes to raise $60,000 to fund its health programs.
“I just think it’s a great event. It helps people in our community,” Sahut said. “The event makes you feel very good. You see how much people on Kauai care for each other.”
Co-chair Jose Aguayo is also looking forward to the celebration.
“We are very excited about this and we hope that the community supports us,” Aguayo said. “It warms my heart to see so many people fighting for the same goal.”
Because his beloved niece contracted ovarian cancer, Aguayo said he understands the difficulty of battling cancer and joined the efforts of the American Cancer Society to help end the disease.
“Rather than being negative about the situation, I decided to be positive,” Aguayo said. “I wanted to do my part somehow and let her know that I was supporting her.”
The celebration will also honor retired Judge Clifford Nakea and his wife Gloria for their contributions to Hoedown for Hope.
“We thought they would be the perfect choice for being our honoree chair people,” Aguayo said.
As the largest funder for cancer research, the ACS has contributed to all major cancer treatment breakthroughs in recent history and has provided lodgings for more than 99 patients within the state of Hawaii.
Tickets may be purchased at hoedownforhope.org
