Latest news with #JohnOndrasik
CBS News
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Pierogi Fest returns to Whiting, Indiana, with food and live music this weekend
The popular Pierogi Fest, honoring Eastern European culture through food, kicks off Friday in Whiting, Indiana. This year, the weekend-long event will feature more than 75 food booths, two beer gardens, and 55 vendors. The event starts at 11 a.m. Friday with the Polka Parade wrapping up day one at 7 p.m. According to the events website, those planning to attend can find free parking around the town, but there will be six paid lots that will benefit churches and organizations, including: St. John the Baptist Church - Lincoln Ave. and 119th St. Sacred Heart Church - 1800 LaPorte Ave. St. Adalbert Church - 2106 Indianapolis Blvd. St. Mary's Byzantine Church - 2011 Clark St. St. Paul's Lutheran Church - Atchison Ave and Indianapolis Blvd. Whiting Football Parking Lot - 500 Center St. Shuttles will also run Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. Shuttles will not run during the parade. The last shuttle bus will run at 4:15 p.m. on Sunday. Shuttles are $5 or $20 for families of 5 or more. Children under 6 years old ride free. Bus services and handicap park is also available. The event will be headlined by Five For Fighting singer John Ondrasik, who will take to the main stage on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. There will be six stages with more than 50 performances scheduled, including a polka dance contest and other traditional performances. Starting as a small festival in 1993, serving just 1,200 people in its first year, Pierogi Fest now sees millions of visitors yearly. The event will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. CBS News Chicago is a proud media partner of the event.
Miami Herald
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Let Music Fill My World Announces Winners of the 2025 Music Matters Challenge
RAMON CAMPOS FROM ROCHESTER, MN AND MOZART ELEMENTARY FROM BOSTON, MA NAMED WINNERS CHICAGO, IL / ACCESS Newswire / June 24, 2025 / Let Music Fill My World, a privately funded nonprofit launched by the Tullman Family Office (TFO) and Grammy-nominated artist Five For Fighting (aka John Ondrasik), is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Music Matters Challenge - a nationwide initiative that called on individuals and schools to celebrate the transformative power of music and advocate for increased access to music education in classrooms across the country. After months of heartfelt submissions, powerful storytelling, and overwhelming public support, the winners have been selected. These standout entries were chosen by the public for their creativity, authenticity, and moving demonstrations of how music has shaped their lives and communities. 2025 MUSIC MATTERS CHALLENGE WINNERS Individual WinnerRamon Campos - Rochester, MNRamon taught himself violin with the help of YouTube and support from his school community, eventually earning a spot in the All-State Orchestra. Recognizing a lack of access to music education in his community, he launched a mentorship program offering free violin lessons to 25 students and training 11 mentors. His goal is to close the equity gap in music education. This summer, he'll attend Carnegie Hall's National Youth Orchestra to further develop his skills and continue inspiring others. School WinnerMozart Elementary School - Boston, MAFor the music teacher at Mozart Elementary, music has always meant many things - tradition, expression, connection - but this year brought something entirely new: the overwhelming joy of building a musical community. From day one, students learned, laughed, and sang together - working toward a shared goal of performing Stand By Me as their school song. At the spring concert, that dream came alive. As sixth graders kicked off the beat and chords rang out, every voice - hundreds of students, teachers, and family members - joined together in one unforgettable, powerful moment. "Congrats to Ramon and Mozart Elementary. Your music filled my world!" said John Ondrasik, Co-Founder of Let Music Fill My World. "This year, once again, John and I had the great honor of getting to know so many talented and passionate Americans through the universal language of music," said Cayley Tull, Co-Founder of Let Music Fill My World. "Thank you to each of you who shared your story and joined our movement to reimagine the role of music in our lives and classrooms. Music is one of the most powerful tools we have-for connection, social and emotional development, skills-building, and perhaps most importantly, as a vital resource that delivers for our youth. Congratulations to this year's winners and to everyone who participated in the Music Matters Challenge. Together, we will make a little noise, and maybe even some good trouble, to ensure music education is prioritized and evenly deployed across the Nation." Challenge Prizes Include: $25,000 School Grant - Awarded to the winning school to directly support its music programming and initiatives.$10,000 Cash Prize - Awarded to the individual winner to further their personal music journey.$300,000 Music Teacher Grant - In a transformative effort to expand access to music education, the individual winner will also help select a school to receive a grant of up to $300,000 to fund the salary of a full-time music teacher for three years. Let Music Fill My World extends its heartfelt thanks to every person, student, teacher, and community who participated in this year's Challenge. Together, we're building a future where music education is not a luxury - but a right. We're already looking forward to next year's Challenge and hope you'll join us again to keep the momentum going! ### ABOUT LET MUSIC FILL MY WORLD: The organization "Let Music Fill My World" was born in 2023 when Tullman Family Office (TFO) teamed up with Grammy-nominated artist John Ondrasik of Five For Fighting to connect with students at Farragut Career Academy in Chicago through music. Ondrasik and eight students co-wrote the original song titled "Let Music Fill My World," with the students contributing the lyrics, passionately expressing their personal connection to music. Despite overwhelming evidence that music education is integral to childhood development across varied proof points including boosting test scores, reducing disciplinary infractions, and improving graduation rates, music and arts education remains undervalued, as evidenced by its uneven and insufficient deployment nationwide. These powerful creative resources continue to face cuts in lower-income urban schools, often being the first to go during budget constraints. "Let Music Fill My World" is on a mission to change that reality, supporting sustainable music funding, fueling dynamic storytelling, and transforming lives in the process. ABOUT FIVE FOR FIGHTING / JOHN ONDRASIK: In the two decades since Five for Fighting's first major single, "Superman (It's Not Easy)," hit the stratosphere, Five For Fighting (aka John Ondrasik), has released six studio LPs, including the platinum-certified "America Town'' and "The Battle for Everything;" and the top-10 charting "Two Lights," along with an EP and live albums. A post 9-11 anthem, Ondrasik performed "Superman (It's Not Easy)," at the 2001 Concert for New York, a benefit show at Madison Square Garden that honored first responders and the fallen about a month after the tragic September 11th attacks. Ondrasik has penned major hits, including the chart-topping "100 Years," "The Riddle," "Chances," "World," and "Easy Tonight," which have earned tens of millions of streams and placed him as a top-10 Hot Adult Contemporary artist for the 2000s. The reflective "100 Years" has joined "Superman (It's Not Easy)" as part of the American Songbook and continues to stand the test of time. Five For Fighting's music has also been featured in more than 350 films, television shows, and commercials, including the Oscar-winning "The Blind Side," "Hawaii Five-O," "The Sopranos," and the CBS drama, "Code Black." For more information visit: ABOUT THE TULLMAN FAMILY OFFICE: The Tullman Family Office (TFO) directs the Chicago-based Tullman family's philanthropy, political advocacy, business investments focused on social impact, and community engagement initiatives. We partner with visionary leaders, grassroots organizations, and creative thinkers to move beyond incremental progress - reimagining resources, accelerating impact, and activating collective solutions that advance equity and opportunity for all. For more information about TFO's philanthropic work, visit: PUBLICITY CONTACTS Cassie Zebisch-Schienle | cassie@ Abbey Kovacevich | abbey@ SOURCE: Let Music Fill My World
Chicago Tribune
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Of Notoriety: Pierogi Fest nets Five for Fighting, fairs bring Ludacris, Bill Murray, Snoop
This weekend marks the Summer Solstice on June 22, which also means the path of shorter days begins while ushering in the second half of summer's bows. It's also the prime of festival and fair season, with stage entertainment featuring marquee headliners. The 31st Annual Pierogi Fest in Whiting is the weekend of July 25-27, and playing the free entertainment stage is Five For Fighting, led by singer John Ondrasik, at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, July 26, sponsored by Hard Rock Casino. The songwriter and performer is a platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated name, whose first major single, 'Superman (It's Not Easy),' had constant radio play when it was released in 2000. Five For Fighting has released six studio LPs, including the platinum certified 'America Town' and 'The Battle for Everything,' along with the top-10 charting 'Two Lights.' Ondrasik's writing includes major hits, including the chart-topping '100 Years,' 'The Riddle,' 'Chances,' 'World,' and 'Easy Tonight,' which combined have earned 2 billion streams and place him among the top-10 Hot Adult Contemporary artists for the 2000s. The reflective and melodic '100 Years' continues to stand the test of time as a new favorite in recent decades, played at weddings, birthdays, graduations and memorials. Five For Fighting's music has also been featured in more than 350 films, television shows and commercials, including the Oscar-winning 'The Blind Side,' 'Hawaii Five-O,' 'The Sopranos' and the CBS drama, 'Code Black.' The main stage at Pierogi Fest is just one of six performance stages at the festival, sprawling through 119th Street in downtown Whiting. Last year, Sugar Ray was the featured headliner and in 2023, Smash Mouth, and in previous years, The Village People. Featuring more than 50 musical performances and entertainment offerings this year, the festival will include more than 75 food booths, two beer gardens, and 55 arts and crafts and tchotchke vendors. The following famed names and talents await fair audiences in July and August 2025: LaPorte County Fair, July 5-12, welcomes country music newcomers Warren Zeiders and Austin Williams as a double-bill performing at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 10. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets range from $40 to $65, plus admission to the fair and parking are not free. FYI: or (219) 362-2647. Porter County Fair is July 17-26, with rapper Ludacris performing on the Grand Stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 18. Tickets are $40 and $45 plus fair admission. Parking is free. FYI: or 219-462-0321. Lake County Fair Aug. 1-10, country music new superstars Russell Dickerson and Niko Moon as a double-bill, 5 p.m. July 31. Tickets range from $39 to $111 plus fair admission. Parking is free. FYI: or 219-663-3617 Indiana State Fair Friday Aug. 1-Sunday Aug. 17, with headliners: Aug. 1-Three Dog Night, Aug. 7-America, Aug. 8 – Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers, Aug. 13 – Happy Together Tour (The Turtles, The Vogues, Little Anthony, Jay and The Americans, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap), Aug. 14 – Phil Vassar and Lonestar – 7:30 pm, Aug. 15 – Melissa Etheridge. All concert times are at 7:30 p.m. EST. General seating is free with fair admission and a parking fee. General Reserved Access Tickets are $61 and Premium Reserved Access tickets, $81.50-$107.25. FYI: or 317-927-7500. Illinois State Fair Aug. 7 through Aug. 17, with headlining concerts Aug. 8 – Jake Owen, Aug. 9 – The Black Crowes, Aug. 12 – Sheryl Crow, Aug. 13 – Snoop Dogg, Aug. 14 – Brad Paisley and Aug. 16 – Def Leppard. All concerts at 8 p.m. Ticket price range: $30-125 plus fair admission and parking fee. FYI: or 217-782-666.
CBS News
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
"Five for Fighting" performing at 2025 Pierogi Fest in Whiting, Indiana
"Five for Fighting" will perform on the main stage at this year's Pierogi Fest in Whiting, Indiana, in July. Pierogi Fest, the wackiest festival in America, runs from July 25 to July 27 and honors Eastern European culture through food. Starting as a small festival in 1993, Pierogi Fest now sees millions of visitors each year. The "Five for Fighting" singer John Ondrasik will perform on the main stage on Saturday, July 26th, at 8:30 p.m. The singer is known for his chart-topping songs "Superman," 100 Years," "Chances," and "The Riddle." CBS News Chicago is a proud media partner of the event.
