Peter Breinholt, Jon Schmidt plan to play benefit concert in Sugar House

Local celebrities Jon Schmidt and Peter Breinholt are planning to give back to the Sugar House schools they attended in a big way.

On Tuesday, March 22, the two musicians will put on a benefit concert at Highland High School, 2166 South 700 East, at 7 p.m. to raise money for both Highland High School and Hillside Middle School.

Both musicians attended Highland High School and Hillside Middle School, and when they were approached by Dayna Evans, Family Support Outreach coordinator at Hillside, to put on a concert that would benefit the lower income students of both Hillside and Highland, they were happy to participate.

"They were both very positive and got right back to me," Evans said. The two will not receive any payment for their concert. "It's a big deal. They both have families they're raising and supporting. This is how they make a living, and they're taking time away from their families to do this."

At Hillside and Highland, 39 percent of the students are on free and reduced lunch, which means they live on less than $28,000 a year for a family of four. "My job is to get these children basic needs like shoes, socks, underwear, toothbrushes, backpacks, paper, etc.," Evans said. "When they have these things, they can focus on their education."

Evans recalled a time when she gave a backpack with paper and pencils to a student and he was so moved, he cried. "Being in such an affluent area, people don't realize there is a big need for these students who are not that far away," she said.

She thinks people will want to come to an event to support a cause like this. "I would hope we'll get a full house," Evans said. "If people know it's going to a good cause, I would think they would want to support it. There are two amazing artists and this concert gives you two for the price of one. I'm sure they'll put on a great show, and it will be a great night."

Evans hopes that this benefit concert will raise a substantial amount of money that can be used to help the students who need it so much. "It's always a challenge to get enough money," Evans said. "The Salt Lake City School District sets up grants for the entire district, but once it's gone, it's gone."

"Once you have the money, it's easier to do the things you need and want to do," she added. "The big key is to raise money and make people aware that there is a need. A lot of people want to help but they don't realize the need is here."

Evans hopes she can turn this concert into an annual event.

"I would love to sell out the concert so Jon and Peter would feel like it's worth their time and they would want to do it again," she said. "Instead of donating $20, you're getting something back and your money is going somewhere."

Caption: Songwriter Peter Breinholt will put on a benefit concert in Sugar House this March.