The 15th annual Family Day, hosted by the T.J. Martell Foundation, takes place this Sunday at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. The event, famed for being the biggest indoor carnival in the city, will feature a variety of fun activities, celebrity guests as well as performances by Pitbull, Timeflies, Bleachers (Jack Antonoff of fun.'s latest band), Us The Duo, Bea Miller (X Factor finalist) with Hilary Duff hosting the festivities.
What's more: the proceeds benefit awareness and research for cancer and AIDs, including a special grant for ovarian cancer, which was added this year. RCA Records president/COO Tom Corson will be honored at the event.
"There is so much important cancer research being done. Unfortunately the current nature of cancer research is that we need more and more new treatments because there are so many different kinds of cancer," Family Day chairman Marcus Peterzell told Music Times. "The reality is that the big funders, including the government, just can't fund them all. So there are a lot of great researchers who have some promising treatments and no one is able to fund them to see if they are even going to become real. That's where we put our funds. To me the ability to really do that early-stage funding and find a miracle cure is really important, and that's why the foundation's work is so important is that it provides that early funding."
What makes Family Day unlike other fundraisers?
"It's a much more relaxed atmosphere," Peterzell explained. "You can take your kids, support a cause that is close to you, and it's much less expensive. So it's really just a great opportunity for people to have a great day out with their family and friends."
The event has continued to grow each year. Peterzell says the first year had 75 attendees and now the attendance numbers are reaching well over 1,000.
"A lot of people come out because cancer is something that unfortunately touches so many people. I think that's why people support the T.J. Martel foundation, which has been synonymous with the music industry for so many years."
Tickets are still available online and can also be purchased at the door on Sunday. Head to TJMartell.org for more information and check back with us here for coverage of Sunday's event.
