Shindig Charity Music Festival
- Shari Berg
- Jun 30
- 5 min read
The Stark Costs Behind Every Heroic Response
The stark reality behind every emergency response reveals the enormous financial burden our first responders shoulder to serve and protect our community. While we witness their heroic actions and life-saving interventions, few realize the staggering costs that make their work possible.
When Harmony EMS responds to one of their 3,500 annual medical emergencies, they rely on equipment that costs more than most people’s homes. A single ambulance runs around $300,000. The stretchers inside cost $30,000 each, and the loading equipment adds another $30,000. Heart monitors essential for saving lives carry price tags of $35,000 to $40,000 each.
These costs represent just one of the many financial challenges facing first responders across the region—from the Harmony Fire District’s 650 annual calls to the Zelienople Police Department’s 4,500 to 5,000 yearly responses. With limited budgets and equipment subject to 24/7 wear and tear, local police, fire, and EMS departments struggle to maintain the resources they need to keep their communities safe.
That’s where the Shindig Charity Music Festival comes in.
For the third consecutive year, My Preferred Insurance & HomeSolutions is hosting this growing fundraising event to directly support local first responders. One hundred percent of ticket sales and donations go to the beneficiaries. A portion of the funds goes to the Northwood Charitable Foundation, a housing-related charity in Western PA, with the bulk split among the Harmony Fire District, Zelienople Police Department, Jackson Township Police Department, and Harmony EMS.
“Without our big sponsors, we would not be able to pull this off,” said Vince Gemma, managing partner of My Preferred Insurance & HomeSolutions and the event’s organizer. “It’s difficult to raise as much money as we need without big sponsors standing behind us.”
Growing Event, Growing Impact
What started as a charity golf outing has evolved into a full weekend festival expected to raise a significant amount this year. The event runs Friday through Sunday, August 1–3, 2025, at Union Brothers Brewery in Harmony, with tickets priced as low as $20 for the entire weekend.
“It started off as a charity golf outing tied to the Northwood Charitable Foundation. It limited who could come and excluded anyone who didn’t like golf,” Gemma explained. The first year was a single day, last year expanded to two days, and this year marks the first full weekend format.
The festival features 18 bands over three days, with music beginning Friday at 6 p.m. Saturday kicks off early with “kegs and eggs” at 8:30 a.m., followed by continuous entertainment until 10 p.m. Sunday also starts with “kegs and eggs” and is designated as Kids’ Day, featuring family-friendly activities from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Beyond live music, the weekend includes a car show Friday night, a craft and vendor show Saturday with over 40 vendors, and Sunday activities like “touch-a-truck” experiences, face painting, and first responder demonstrations. “And, of course, great food and brews at Union Brothers Brewing, including Insurance Guy Stout on tap,” said Gemma. “It’s exclusively made using coffee beans sourced from neighboring Wunderbar Café, and $1 from every pour is donated to the Northwood Charitable Foundation.”
Addressing Critical Needs
The fundraising directly addresses the mounting financial pressures facing local first responders. Jay Grinnell from Harmony EMS highlighted the challenge of equipment replacement, noting that insurance reimbursement rates haven’t increased in years while costs continue to rise.
Harmony Volunteer Fire Department Treasurer Rodney Kniess reported 280 calls so far in 2025, on pace to match last year’s 650 total responses. His department has two new fire trucks on order with each carrying a substantial price tag.
Lt. Kevin Mikulan of the Zelienople Police Department emphasized how donations help with training and equipment costs. His 10-officer department received three new police cruisers this year—vehicles that must withstand 24/7 operation for five to seven years. The department handles between 4,500 and 5,000 calls annually, ranging from theft and fraud to domestic disputes, traffic crashes, and mental health calls.
Major Sponsor Support
The event’s success depends heavily on major sponsors who cover entertainment and operational costs, ensuring that all ticket revenue goes directly to the beneficiaries.
Tom Hosack, President and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred and Stouffer Realty and the event’s largest sponsor, has partnered with Gemma since the early golf outing days. “As the region’s oldest and largest real estate company with ties to the community dating back to 1956, we want to be good citizens of our communities,” he said. “We’re very grateful for the first responders and all their efforts.”
Sergey Spisovskiy of Guard Home Warranty, another major sponsor, has also supported the event since its golf outing origins. “I feel like it has a lot more purpose and value now in giving back to the community,” he said. “I love the idea of giving back to first responders and all the charitable funds that will be raised.”
Community Recognition and Connection
Beyond financial support, the event serves an important community-building function. Chief Zeke Reed of the Jackson Township Police Department expressed appreciation for the recognition. “We appreciate the support of the Shindig Charity Music Festival. Donations like this are instrumental for organizations like the Jackson Township Police Department to operate and carry out our mission.”
Deanna Hall, social media director for My Preferred Insurance & HomeSolutions, emphasized the event’s role in humanizing first responders, particularly through Sunday’s Kids’ Day activities. “Part of what we want to do—especially with Kids’ Day—is to have the kids come interact with the police and other first responders to help them see them as people.”
The festival will feature fire trucks, SWAT vehicles, ambulances, police cars, and canine demonstrations designed to entertain and educate children. Lt. Mikulan’s electric bike unit officers plan to conduct obstacle course demonstrations.
Building a Tradition
Organizers have strategically scheduled the festival for the first weekend in August each year, choosing a time when vacation season typically winds down but children haven’t yet returned to school. This consistency helps families plan and builds the event into an annual community tradition.
My Preferred Insurance & HomeSolutions has raised over $80,000 for various charities, and Gemma hopes this year’s Shindig will be a breakthrough moment. “Hopefully this is the year that blows it wide open,” he said.
The festival also includes modern conveniences like a shuttle service from the Steamfitters Union to Union Brothers Brewery every 15 minutes, raffle baskets, a photo booth, and both indoor and outdoor entertainment spaces at the newly renovated venue.
For more information about the festival—including sponsorship opportunities and a complete schedule—visit https://theshindigmusicfestival.com. Advance tickets are available, and organizers encourage early purchase to help with planning.
Thank you to our additional sponsors: Travelers Insurance, Grange Insurance, Vertical First, The Philadelphia Contributionship, AirPro Heating and Cooling, ADT, and Lawrence Plumbing.
For more information about My Preferred Insurance & HomeSolutions, visit their website at https://mypreferred-insurance.com or call (412) 548-1570.
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