COAL CREEK -- On Friday, July 18, 2025, starting at 6 p.m., the non-profit organization Canyon Cares hosted a jazz, blues, and Americana benefit concert at the hall of the Coal Creek Canyon Improvement Association (CCCIA).

The benefit, unlike any Canyon Cares has hosted before, raised $1,463 through donations. Musicians Jerry Rasch, aka Eban Flo, and Orvel “Sticks” Wilson gathered a smattering of musicians together to perform throughout the night.

Jim Lichens and Nate Hero kicked the benefit off with a duo guitar performance. Eban Flo and the Groovadors, with Rasch on guitar, harmonica, and vocals, Paul Woods on bass, and Stephen Bott on drums, performed original and cover material.

Sticks Wilson and Friends, with Wilson on drums, Darren Wagner on bass, Debi Stevenson on piano, Lichens on guitar, Alex Dominguez on tenor sax, and Patty Shaw on alto sax, performed old school jazz numbers. Finally, Rasch, Shaw, Pete Traxler on guitar and vocals, Jon VanZandt on drums, Jeff Pistana on bass, and Linda Carpenter on flute performed a blues-centered set.

Attendees donated $15 at the door and could donate anytime through PayPal. Rasch also offered a copy of one of his books as Eban Flo, either Rhymin’ Limon and the Comet Conundrum or Rhymin’ Limon Dinosaur Detective, with an additional $10 donation.

Founded in 2006, Canyon Cares is an unaffiliated 501(C)(3) organization that provides “emergency assistance for residents of Coal Creek Canyon, Nederland, Ward, Rollinsville, Black Hawk, Central City, and unincorporated Gilpin County.” This includes financial assistance in medical bills, rent and/or mortgage payments, utilities, car repairs, and education.

President Karen Siefert and board member Lindy Lewis expressed their gratitude towards the community’s enthusiasm for the event. Lewis also expresses gratitude towards the musicians, saying that Rasch and Wilson arrived out of “the great blue sky” when they proposed the event.

Siefert and Lewis emphasize the importance of events like this for the sustainability of Canyon Cares’ efforts. They say that half of the organization’s budgetary resources come from individual donations and grants from organizations, while the other half comes from fundraisers, such as this benefit concert.

In raising funds for financial assistance, the organization aims to provide as much help as possible. As Lewis says, they don’t want to turn anyone away from the help they need.

To learn more about and support Canyon Cares, be sure to head to canyoncares.org. To learn about upcoming events at the CCCIA Hall, head to coalcreekcanyon.org.

To check out Eban Flo’s work, head to the pages of his educational program Kidstivity: their Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram (@kidstivity.id), and their website, kidstivity.com. Eban Flo has also released “Kidstivity ABC Song” on Bandcamp.

Sticks Wilson and some of his Friends are part of the 18-piece Flatirons Jazz Orchestra. You can learn more about the group by going to flatironsjazzorchestra.com.