Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.

FAIRFIELD – This year is a milestone anniversary for Jonas Magram and his Annual Children’s Holiday Benefit Concert, now in its 30th year.

The concert, which raises money for four charities, will begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 at Golden Magnolia Sanctuary in Fairfield. The four charities to receive funds are: Golden Magnolia Sanctuary Community Kitchen, SIEDA Community Action, the Ottumwa Crisis Center and Women’s Shelter, and Save the Children. Admission is $15 at the door.

Just as he has done every year, Magram will perform at the concert, and he’ll be joined by a host of friends, many who have performed for this benefit concert before and a few who have not. The musical lineup includes seasoned musicians who have made multiple appearances such as Steve and Michaela McLain, LeAnne Edgeton, Tim Britton, Werner Elmker and Phil Marks.

They will be joined by a few musicians making their benefit concert debut, and they are Keefe Lashway, Ming Vierra, John Lake and Michael Dugan.

“We’ll have a wide variety of music that should appeal to everyone, from folk rock to Broadway to original music as well,” Magram said. “We’re so grateful for the generous support of all our donors, and for the dozens of musicians and other volunteers who have given their time to make this work. Without them, we would not have enjoyed any of this success. That’s the most important thing, that this is a community effort.”

Magram said he had no idea when he started this concert in 1993 that it would last 30 years. He had to skip a couple of years because of a planned move, but this concert has been such a mainstay in Fairfield that even the pandemic didn’t slow it down. When it wasn’t safe to gather in person, Magram organized a benefit concert over Zoom.

“It just became something that I do,” Magram said about organizing the annual concert. “I don’t think about it much. It’s sort of like how every spring you clean your gutters, and every December we do this fundraising.”

Magram said nobody involved in the concert, not him nor the donors nor the musicians, ever gets to meet the people helped by their fundraising.

“It’s a level of charity I deeply appreciate,” he said. “The only thanks the [donors and musicians] get is a thank you letter from me, but they never get to see all the good their money does, and I think that’s a beautiful expression of their kindness.”

The concert’s fundraising fluctuated in its first 10-15 years, but it’s steadily grown each year of the last decade, and now Magram has set an ambitious goal of raising $45,000. One donor, Chuck Espy, explained why he looks forward to this concert every year:

“We love going to Jonas’ Children’s Holiday Benefit fun and entertaining concerts,” he said. “The music is great and the causes it supports are so worthy. We really can’t recommend this event more highly.”

John Huff, a friend of Magram’s who has performed at this event before, said it’s always a joyous occasion.

“The room is full of happiness, which shocked me the first time I went,” he said. “Jonas was put on earth to do this. He’s an incredible master of ceremonies because he’s funny and quick.”

One hundred percent of the money raised will go toward the four charities. Magram said that, to meet the $45,000 goal, he’ll need to find new donors. Those interested in making a tax-deductible donation can email childrensholidaybenefit@gmail.com.