USTORM: Who We Are & What We Do
USTORM is a non-profit organization aimed at raising funds to help needy children and young adults improve their lives by providing acces to various music and art educational programs: "United So Together Our Reach Multiplies."
Founded in Chicago by Brendan Bayliss of Umphrey's McGee, Barry Brown of Jack Straw, Mike LeMaistre of Jam Productions and Kevin Kostelecky of The Store 'Til 4, USTORM has donated over $40,000 to various music and art educational schools and programs.
The idea came to Kevin after a Hurricane Katrina benefit party held at The Store in Chicago that March. After this inspiration, he approached the other guys who knew they were surrounded by many people in their music community who would like to help. They decided to throw a party at The Store. The concept was well received. They raised $2000 and that was only the first event!
At Summercamp Music Festival that summer, they set up a booth with a raffle. Great music-related prizes were offered and the raffle was a huge success. Since then, USTORM raffles have been a staple of every event. Later in August 2006 during Lollapalooza weekend, The Brain Damaged Eggmen - with members of Umphrey's McGee and The Disco Biscuits - played a late-night show at the Vic. It was clear that USTORM was growing, and awareness was emerging beyond the Umphrey's McGee following.
On March 31st, 2007, USTORM had its first birthday party at the Park West in Chicago. Al Schnier from moe., Jeff Austin from Yonder Mountain String Band, Aron Magner and Marc Brownstein from The Disco Biscuits, Jennifer Hartswick and other philanthropic musicians collaborated that night to raise more money than any other USTORM event. This benefit concert was even nominated for a Jammy Award.
USTORM has since raised funds at events around the Midwest. Over $40,000.00 has been donated to charity organizations such as The People's Music School in Chicago, Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago, Keys for Kids and more. It is clear that USTORM will continue to make an impact on the local community by providing funds that would otherwise be unavailable to underprivileged youth.
Helps from bands such as Phish, moe., Yonder Mountain String Band, Sound Tribe Sector 9, Umphrey's McGee, the Brain Damaged Eggmen and others haves made it possible for many children to receive the gift of music. USTORM continues to grow in Chicago, helping to facilitate the arts for youth. USTORM IS HERE!