Raise Your Voice: United Way launches virtual singing competition

United Way of Beaumont and North Jefferson County announced July 14 that it’s launching the first ever “Raise Your Voice 409” fundraising event. The virtual singing competition will spotlight the abundant local musical talent in Southeast Texas. The grand prize winner gets $2,000 and the runner-up receives $500.

All contestants must be 18 years of age or older and must reside in the 409 area code to enter. The deadline for contestant entries is Sunday, Aug. 2, at 8 p.m. Interested candidates can visit www.uwbmt.org/raise-your-voice-409 for the Contestant Entry Rules & Guidelines.

The field of contestants will be limited to 32 total individuals and/or bands, which will be selected by a committee from all final entries. The contest will pair eight individuals/bands against one another each week with top vote-getters advancing to the next round. This format will continue until the final round.

The top vote-getters for each round will be based on the number of votes in the United Way fundraiser. Each vote is worth $1, and all funds raised are “invested right back into our local community,” according to the organization.

Proceeds will benefit 36 critical health and human service programs of United Way’s 20 local nonprofit partner agencies including: Anayat House, The Arc of Greater Beaumont, Boys’ Haven, Boy Scouts of America, Three Rivers Council, Capland Speech Therapy Center, Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas, Communities in Schools of Southeast Texas, Family Services Counseling Center and Women & Children’s Shelter, Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council, Legacy Community Health, Nutrition & Services for Seniors, Rape & Suicide Crisis Center of Southeast Texas, Recovery Council of Southeast Texas, Salvation Army Corps and Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club, Samaritan Counseling Center, Shorkey Center, Southeast Texas Family Resource Center, Southeast Texas Food Bank, Southeast Texas Hospice and USO – United Service Organization.

For additional information, visit www.uwbmt.org, follow Raise Your Voice 409 on Facebook, e-mail RaiseYourVoice@uwbmt.org or contact John Rollins, Director of Public Relations and Community Impact for United Way of Beaumont & North Jefferson County, at (409) 835-4575 ext. 3.