They were honoring the legacy of their musical inspiration: The original “We are the World” was released in March 1985 to raise money to fight hunger in Africa. The song, which has raised more than $60 million, was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and recorded by an unprecedented lineup of pop titans, including Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, Bob Dylan and Ray Charles, among many others.
“It’s the power of creativity and artistry to support something that they care about,” Marisa Guastella, the assistant director of development and fundraising at New Concepts, said of the collaboration. “This is what it does — it brings people together.”
On Tuesday, New Concepts hosted a New Year’s Eve launch party for Big & Tall’s “We Are The World” at the nonprofit’s home on Route 17 south. Seventeen singers performed a live rendition before the video was debuted. The audience, made up of New Concepts clients and staff members, their families and community members, waved their arms back and forth as the chorus began, with some even singing along.
The nonprofit provides community residences, day programs and therapeutic and behavioral services for people 21 and above. Individuals in its programs and group homes live with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, brain injuries, fetal alcohol syndrome and rare conditions like Williams, Prader-Willi and Rett syndromes.
Jennifer Quinn, a singer from Ramsey who sang in the live performance, said she couldn’t think of a better cause.
“It’s always an honor to do anything to support people who need it,” added Sarah Lucero, a singer from Norwood who also performed on Tuesday.
New Concepts opened its new 81,000-square-foot facility this summer on the grounds of the old Route 17 Barnes & Noble, a location about eight times the size of its former home in Rochelle Park. The building has dedicated space for life skills training, recreation programs, sensory rooms, health and wellness screenings and physical, occupational, behavioral and speech therapy. It offers three distinct programs for those with low support needs, those with higher needs and people who are medically fragile.
“I’ve been working with these families for a long time now, and some of the kids have aged out of the school district,” McCormick said. “They’ve been looking for day program in an adult care facility, and that’s how this place came on my radar.”
Once students with IDD turn 21 years old, they’re no longer eligible for many services provided by the state and local school districts. A lot of services and care they received from the state end up disappearing, and “you really have to figure a lot of stuff out on your own,” McCormick said. Valle’s nephew recently turned 21, and it’s an issue his own family is facing.
“I feel like the general public is unaware of the situation, while for these families, it’s the most important thing in their lives,” McCormick said. “It’s all about trying to spread awareness that a place like this exists.”
Guastella said the “We Are the World” partnership started with a cold call from the studio. The nonprofit was happy to jump on board, and the funds raised by the sales of the music will go toward helping the facility continue to grow. New Concepts currently has a waiting list of over 500 people hoping to join the program.
More:What happened to old Paramus Barnes & Noble? Nonprofit starts new chapter at Rt. 17 site
At present, the group serves about 120 people. It wants to raise that to 300 in the next few years, said CEO Steve Setteducati.
The organization is looking to open five to seven residential houses in 2025, with some in development now, he said. There are two in River Vale that are about to open, one in the works in Mahwah and another in Wyckoff. The group already has locations in Upper Saddle River and Old Tappan.
“We feel very fortunate that this local group of artists picked us of all the charities out there,” Setteducati said.
Those interested in donating to the New Concepts for Living can visit givebutter.com/ImUfZD.
Stephanie Noda is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: noda@northjersey.com; X: @snoda11
