Neuro Vitality Center introduces Saturday Showcases featuring local talent

Winston Gieseke, Palm Springs Desert Sun
·2 min read
Local crooner Frankie Mamone is the former owner of Frankie's Old World Italian Bakery and Supper Club in Cathedral City.
Local crooner Frankie Mamone is the former owner of Frankie's Old World Italian Bakery and Supper Club in Cathedral City.

According to its website, the goal of the Neuro Vitality Foundation is to support the Neuro Vitality Center in Palm Springs, "helping to restore or maintain optimal capacity for self-care to adults with disabilities and/or chronic illness and disorders who may not be covered by insurances."

And when it comes to raising money to help fulfill that goal, the foundation has come up with some clever outside-the-box ways. First was the organization's Wednesday open mic nights in their converted performance space known as the Foundation Lounge.

And now the foundation has created a Saturday Showcase Series.

"We have had such a remarkable turnout at our open mic and found many people interested in doing a show, showcasing themselves," said Sarah S. Sutton, foundation manager for the Neuro Vitality Foundation. "We originally planned this show to be once a month in the Foundation Lounge, only to have such a response that we are already finding ourselves booked up until May and filling in the weeks.

The series kicked off Nov. 19 with the desert's own Marcia Harp, an award-winning performer and choreographer who was once a soloist with the famous Fabulous Palm Springs Follies.

Next up, on Dec. 3, is a Tony Bennett tribute starring Frankie Mamone, former owner of Frankie's Old World Italian Bakery and Supper Club. The local crooner will perform Bennett's greatest hits like "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," "Once Upon a Time" and "I Wanna Be Around." The show, which will also feature stories and history by narrator Luca Arias, was directed by Grammy-nominated singer Chris Bennett and features Musical Director Joel Baker on piano.

Entry is $15 cash at the door, which opens at 2:30 p.m. Showtime is at 3 p.m. For more information on this and other showcases, visit neurovitalitycenter.org and click on "Events."

As the philanthropy and special sections editor at The Desert Sun, Winston Gieseke writes about nonprofits, fundraising and locals who give back. Reach him at winston.gieseke@desertsun.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Neuro Vitality Center in Palm Springs introduces Saturday Showcases