By Annabeth Reeb
Beau Means Business is back – this time with our favorite twist, a Grand Stafford dinner concert! We sat down with the family behind this amazing non-profit organization for their Rock Away Cystic Fibrosis event, revealing a community full of love, talent, and hope for all families and patients living with Cystic Fibrosis.
Zack and Jessica Varner founded Beau Means Business after their son Beau was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis only a few weeks after birth.
“At this time my wife, Jessica, and I noticed the community lacked an organization dedicated to increasing CF awareness and helping those with CF in the Brazos Valley,” Zack said, explaining the conception of the non-profit. Beau Means Business strives to not only educate the community about cystic fibrosis, but also to raise funds for research toward the disease. They hold benefits – mostly music-related – in order to achieve this goal.
Zack filled us in with some really significant facts, emphasizing the importance of benefit concerts such as this one.
“I want people that attend our events to have a better understanding about the genetic disorder, so they can educate others about Cystic Fibrosis when it comes up in future conversations” Zack said. “Our community does not realize that they might have a close relationship with Cystic Fibrosis and not even know it. One in 30 people are carriers for Cystic Fibrosis and this ratio increases to 1 in 25 for the Caucasian population. This means that Bryan-College Station has more 6,500 people that are carriers of the Cystic Fibrosis mutation. The offspring of two carriers have a 25% chance of having Cystic Fibrosis.”
Jamie Wilson and James York will be preforming at the benefit. Wilson started off as a co-lead vocalist with the Gougers before beginning her successful solo career. Wilson will be releasing her first full solo album “Holidays and Wedding Rings” this January.
James York has a similar style, as he is also a singer-songwriter in the Texas Red Dirt country scene. York was born in College Station and raised in the Texas hill country, so the benefit concert at Grand Stafford will feel like home to him. His music mixes American pride, Texas country and the blues.
The concert will be held on December 12 at the Grand Stafford Theater in Bryan. Doors will open at six and dinner will be served at seven. General Admission is $5; $20 for table seating with dinner; or $80 for a table of four. Music will begin at 7:30pm.
