Life as a Zebra Foundation has hosted five benefit concerts to date to raise money to directly support the groundbreaking research on POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) being led by Dr. Blair Grubb at the University of Toledo Medical Center, and to support Life as a Zebra Foundation’s projects and initiatives to educate, provide awareness, and support other research for various invisible illnesses.
Every benefit concert has included a silent auction, hosted beer, wine, and hors d’oeuvres followed by a concert. Chris Trapper has performed at all of Life as a Zebra Foundation’s benefit concerts and he quickly became a fan favorite and big supporter of invisible illness awareness and education. More about Chris Trapper below.
Chris Trapper: CHRIS TRAPPER began his career as the front man for late-90’s alternative rock band THE PUSH STARS (Capitol Records). With ten CD releases and several high profile national tours — including a run with Matchbox Twenty –The Push Stars served to establish Chris as an authentic talent. As a singer /songwriter, Chris is most known for his original song THIS TIME, the #1 selling song on the Grammy nominated soundtrack for AUGUST RUSH (Robin Williams, Jonathan Rhys Meyers /Warner Bros Pictures). His music can best be described as lyrically driven roots-pop with a knack for telling everyday stories.The New York Times has called his work “classic pop perfection,” and The Huffington Post has called Trapper, “A brilliantly gifted songwriter.”
Other Performers Have Included:
Joshua Davis: Joshua Davis is a husband, father, friend and music lover. He shares songs for a living; as a songwriter, record producer, band member, solo act, guitar/songwriting teacher, mix-tape-maker extraordinaire, all with the most amazing people on the planet! Josh was raised on American roots tradition: the music, the social movements, the land. He writes original songs that blend many folk traditions – including gritty rock n’ roll and vintage soul. Performing Songwriter Magazine called the result, “Some of the liveliest and most rocking roots music around.”
Noah Guthrie: Described as having a Pop/Americana sound with soul, the 20 year old co-wrote the majority of his thirteen originals, along with his first single, Call Home. He may have been called the male version of Adele or a mix of John Legend and Dave Matthews in the past, but as his social media username shows, there is Only 1 Noah. He has been featured on NBC’s Today Show, Jay Leno’s Tonight Show, Dancing With The Stars, and several U.S. and European Radio Stations.
Tony Lucca: seen on season 2 of NBC’s The Voice, Lucca is a singer/songwriter with over 20 years in the entertainment business, starting with the Mickey Mouse Club. Lucca has 7 albums to his name.
Special Guests have included:
Jordyn Weiber: Jordyn is an American former artistic gymnast turned gymnastics coach. Since April 2019, she has been the head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks gymnastics team. Weiber was a member of the gold-medal-winning U.S. Women’s Gymnastics team, self-dubbed the “Fierce Five“, at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Dr. Blair Grubb: Dr. Grubb is a world-recognized expert in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmia and POTS, a debilitating disease that causes dizziness, sudden fainting, and an inability to carry on the basic functions of daily life. In 2015 and for many years in a row, Dr. Grubb has been named one of America’s Top Doctors by Castle Connolly. POTS patients from around the world seek out Dr. Grubb’s care at UTMC, where they are treated with his trademark kindness, thoroughness, and compassion.
Dr. Grubb is a leader in the discovery and use of new approaches for the treatment of POTS. Recently, Dr. Grubb and his colleagues at UTMC have embarked on research that holds great promise for unlocking the underlying cause of POTS.
Lisa Gigliotti: Lisa is an attorney, motivational speaker, and author who has released five books. Living with serious myasthenia gravis and severe rheumatoid arthritis, Lisa has achieved successful careers as an administrative law judge, a policy advisor for the Michigan state senate and governor, an advocate for people with disabilities and for improving pain management and end-of-life care, and is dedicated to helping others lead more fulfilling lives.
The benefit concert has been the cornerstone of Life as a Zebra Foundation’s fundraising and awareness efforts each year it has been held. We are hoping that we will be able to get back to hosting this educational and fun night in the near future. Life as a Zebra Foundation is proud to relay that it has raised over $100,000 from hosting these concerts. We could not have done this without our supporters!