This Event has Passed
11th Annual Dustin Mele Memorial Concert
The public is invited to enjoy an evening full of music to benefit suicide prevention and mental health intervention services.
Proceeds from the Memorial Concert will support three organizations, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP); National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and Rensselaer County mental health and emergency assistance programs through the Catholic Charities CoNSERNS-U program, all in memory of Dustin.
We’re planning a special musical line-up this year featuring the music of Eric Clapton, performed by Bobby Vandetta, The Rob Beaulieu Band, Super 400, and special guest musicians including Brad Hester, Nick Landess, and Joe Mele.
A veteran of more than 50 years on the local music circuit, Joe Mele lost his son Dustin to suicide in 2013 and rallied the area’s elite musicians to raise awareness of the growing suicide and mental health epidemic. Dustin’s friends and family believe that with erasing the stigma of depression and making proper mental health care more easily available, lives can be saved. Suicide is at epidemic proportions and touches more lives and families every day. Over the past 11 years, the Mele family has gone above and beyond to try to bring awareness and assistance to those who are struggling in the Capital Region.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) has credited the Dustin Mele Memorial Concert and team as the top Upstate New York fundraiser 10 years running for AFSP’s largest annual event, Walk for R.I.T.A., which raises money for suicide awareness, prevention and family support programs. Recently, NAMI New York State presented Dustin’s family and the Memorial Concert Event with their highest honor, the prestigious Storyteller award.
This year’s Dustin Mele Memorial Concert event is sponsored in part by Brown’s Brewing; Chris Garabedian Custom Clothing; Clark Courier Services; D.O.B Parkinson’s Charity; Fagan Associates; Grotto Skin and Lash Lounge, LLC; Guth DeConzo Consulting Engineers; PC; Live Sound Inc.; Modern Press; RadioRadioX; Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office Unions: Deputy Sheriff PBA & Corrections Union Local 975; Screen Designs Inc.; Sheriff Kyle Bourgault; and Squared Home Inspections.
Online donations can also be made to any or all 3 benefiting organizations:
AFSP Dustin Mele Memorial Concert: https://afspwalks.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&teamID=362937
Catholic Charities Dustin Mele Memorial Fund: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/e/6dPzHQ?vid=1i6zn0
NAMI Dustin Mele Memorial Concert: https://namicapitalregionny.org/10th-annual-dustin-mele-memorial-concert/
For more information on the Annual Dustin Mele Memorial Concert, visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DustinMeleMemorial.
On behalf of Dustin’s family and friends, and all those who will be helped through this year’s proceeds and benefiting organizations, thank you for your support!
Event Links
Facebook: https://go.evvnt.com/2948963-0
