Rock4Sight Headed to Orlando’s Hard Rock Café for Annual Charity Fundraiser on February 21, 2025

Posted by Vision Monday on Tuesday, November 3, 2024 12:24 AM - Article Link

ORLANDO, Fla.—Rock4Sight, an annual rock ‘n’ roll fundraiser, will take place at the Hard Rock Café Orlando at Universal Studios on February 21, 2025, in support of non-profit vision care foundation ECN Purpose. According to the announcement, the show will feature volunteer musicians from throughout the optical industry and will be the first Rock4Sight to take place in Orlando after many years at the Hard Rock Café in New York. In a nod to the late songwriter and musician Jimmy Buffet, as well as to the new venue and its southern locale, Rock4Sight’s organizers are calling their show “Changes in Latitude with a Rock & Roll Attitude.”

“As we shift from 40.7128° N in New York to 28.5384° N in Orlando, we will embrace the warmer weather, and bring the same rockin’ attitude the optical industry has always shown,” said Rock4Sight co-producer Bob Stein, who credited Buffet’s song “Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitudes” for inspiring the show’s title.

Stein continued, “For all of us in the optical industry, the move of Vision Expo East from NYC to Orlando meant rethinking our planning and logistics and schedules. Everyone is facing some new challenges. But one thing remains the same. We’re continuing our philanthropic musical journey with the Hard Rock Café. Only instead of being in Times Square we’ll be at the world’s largest Hard Rock Café at Universal Studios in Orlando.”

The in-person event promises to be a memorable experience for all music enthusiasts, according to Stein. “Get ready to groove to the electrifying sounds of rock, metal, country and R&B bands consisting of volunteer musicians, while supporting a noble cause,” he said. “Mark your calendars and bring your family and friends. All ages are welcome.”

Commenting on ECN Purpose’s partnership with Rock4Sight, Aspasia Shappet, founder and CEO of the non-profit added, “These annual fundraising concerts have been a blessing. We have thoroughly enjoyed combining a fundraising event with a marvelous evening of entertainment with our optical industry friends. The net proceeds from the last three years have enabled us to significantly increase the number of people in optical need that we serve. We feel so grateful and indebted to the event organizers, performers and sponsors.”

The 2025 Rock4Sight Charity Concert will take place Feb. 21, 2025, from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at the Hard Rock Café, 6050 Universal Blvd, Orlando. The Hard Rock Café is located at Universal Studios Orlando in the CityWalk entertainment complex.

Tickets are $75 each and include light food and non-alcoholic drinks. Additionally, there is a cash bar and the option to order food from the Hard Rock Café kitchen and bar. Visitors do not need to be 21 to enter but will need an ID verifying the appropriate age to purchase alcoholic drinks, according to the announcement.

ECN Purpose is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to close the gap of eye health knowledge and make vision care more accessible for the underserved. Tax-deductible ticket purchases will contribute to the expansion of ECN Purpose’s mobile services to include eyewear for the underserved. Click here to view highlights from the 2024 Rock4Sight concert and see the ECN Purpose Mobile Eye Health Unit in action.

At press time, the Rock4Sight Diamond Sponsor is National Vision, Inc. Gold Sponsors are Eyewear by ROI and Stein Family Charity. Silver Sponsors are Bulova, Colours by Alexander Julian, D.I. Ware, Denise and Scott Mogil, Eyewear Designs, Hindar Optical, Kirk Lauterback, M.C.Q., Marcolin, Mondottica USA and Ocuco. The Bronze Sponsor is The McGee Group. The Premier Media Sponsor is Jobson Optical Group.

Organizations or individuals interested in sponsoring the event should contact Bob Stein or John Alofs at hello@ecnpurpose.org. Contributions are tax-deductible.