"An Evening for the Arts" at Fairfield University to benefit several local scholarships and awards | Press Releases

Performances by The Melissa Mulligan Band, comedian Mike Morris and the Lee Lund Studio Teen Company are among the highlights of the second annual benefit for The Jamie A. Hulley Fund for the Arts to be held on Saturday, Sept. 18, at Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. A silent auction and reception begin at 6:30 p.m. and the program will follow at 7:30 p.m. in the Kelley Auditorium.

All proceeds from the evening will benefit several art scholarships, awards and programs, as well as celebrate the life of Jamie Alaine Hulley, daughter of Fairfield University psychology professor Judy Primavera and Fred Hulley Jr. Jamie Hulley was an Orange resident and arts enthusiast whose dream of a career in the arts was cut short when she died of cancer in 2002 at the age of 20. The fund offers scholarships and awards at Racebrook School and Amity junior and senior high schools, in Orange and Woodbridge; Wesleyan University; Fairfield University; Action for Bridgeport Community Development; and the Lee Lund Studio in Milford.

"Jamie had the ability to see the best in people and encourage them to stretch their dreams and find their special talent," Primavera said. "I believe that Jamie's arts fund continues to do just that."

The benefit features a concert by The Melissa Mulligan Band, a seven-member pop/rock group that performs across Connecticut and can be heard on a new CD, "Love This Life." Helmed by Mulligan, a Stratford singer/songwriter who performs alone and in a changing lineup, the evening's ensemble includes: Bill Blue, Rob Lipinsky, John Murphy, Ron Ciaburri, Sean Morrissey and Rose Coppola. All of the musicians are donating their time for the benefit.

"As a musician I feel very connected to the scholarships and opportunities Jamie's fund provides students of the arts," Mulligan said. "I love it when students are encouraged to both dream big and work hard to achieve their artistic goals. And I am so moved at what Jamie's parents have been able to create in such a short amount of time. Their love for their daughter appears to have been matched only by their admiration for her work and her creativity."

In addition to songs from the new album and favorites by other artists, Mulligan will sing a song Hulley wrote while she was in Italy.

"I hope I can capture a small portion of her spirit that night," she said.

Mike Morris, who performed at the first Jamie A. Hulley Fund benefit in 2003, will offer a comedy set and teen dancers from the Lee Lund Studio will also perform.

The silent auction features several interesting items, including tickets to New York Rangers, UCONN Huskies, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox games, a one-week Cape Cod vacation, fine jewelry and a Foxwoods Casino weekend. Artwork created by Jamie Hulley will also be on sale.

Wine and light hors d'oeuvres and desserts will be served during the evening.

Tickets to the benefit are $35. For tickets, call (203) 891-8869 or e-mail judyprimavera@yahoo.com . Donations may be made to: Jamie A. Hulley Fund for the Arts, P.O. Box 1208, Orange, CT 06477-7208. For more information, visit www.jamiehulleyartsfund.org .