Diego, one of our Kids In Need who joined the W.A.G.S. 4 Kids family in 2020, held a virtual, musical fundraiser the last week of January in 2021.The fundraiser was organized by Dave Deitke, one of Diego's teachers and a local musician. Mr. Dave organized a five-day setlist of bands to play and raise awareness for Diego's W.A.G.S. fundraiser.
Eighteen Cleveland bands played over five days, rocking out from both The Winchester Music Tavern and The Beachland Ballroom & Tavern. Small audiences were only allowed at The Winchester Music Tavern, but both venues live-streamed the event so that donors from all over could watch the bands and donate to help Diego meet his $9,000 fundraising goal.
At the end of the week, the fundraiser had helped Diego raise 80% of the funds he needs to raise for his W.A.G.S. 4 Kids service dog.
Originally aired on News 5 Cleveland on Jan 22, 2021 at 10:09 PM and last updated 11:16 PM, Jan 22, 2021
*W.A.G.S. 4 Kids does not own the rights to the video or article*
By: Jessi Schultz
CLEVELAND — Dave Deitke, or Mr. Dave as he’s better known, said there’s nothing he loves more than sharing the gift of music with his students, especially his 11-year-old student Diego.
“At the beginning of the year Diego had a super big interest in the guitar,” he said.
Deitke teaches at Insightful Minds, a school that specializes in education for students who struggle in a traditional educational setting. Diego has autism, ADHD, depression, and severe anxiety.
“The anxiety, when it hits him, it really hits him hard and he needs to leave the room and he works a lot by himself,” he said.
When Deitke heard Diego’s family was raising money to get a service dog to help with his anxiety, he did what he could to help.
“That’s one thing I know I can do,” he said. “I’ve spent the last 10 years playing music and being creative in the Cleveland music scene and I can wrangle up a bunch of people to spread the word.”
And what better way to spread the word, than to sing it. Deitke gathered 16 local bands for a week of streamed concerts out of the Winchester in Lakewood and the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland.
“It’s all going to be connected to Diego’s W.A.G.S 4 Kids account,” he said. “It’s just kind of a week long push of ‘Hey can you help?’”
The goal is to raise $9,000 to get Diego his service dog.
W.A.G.S 4 Kids is a charity based out of Berea that trains and places service dogs for those that need them, as early as they need them.
Sera Nelson is the executive director for the organization. She said getting the service dog will make all of the difference for Diego and his family.
“The family is able to then go and experience all these things,” she said. “Being in places and doing things with his family won’t cause him anxiety anymore because he has his dog with him.”
The schedule for next week:
Monday, Jan. 25 at The Winchester
6:30 to 7 p.m. — Jinari Kemet
7 to 7:30 p.m. — Spiro.
730 to 8 p.m. — Eliy Orcko
8- to 8:30 p.m. — Uncle Gnarly
Tuesday, Jan. 26 at The Winchester
7 to 7:30 p.m. — Arron Malik
7:30 to 8 p.m. — All is Harvest
8 to 8:30 p.m. — Jul Big Green
Wednesday, Jan. 27 at Beachland Ballroom
7 to 7:30 p.m. — Midnight Buford
7:30 to 8 p.m. — Astral Radio CLE
8 to 8:30 p.m. — Sparrow and the Lost boys
Thursday, Jan. 28 at Beachland Ballroom
7 to 7:30 p.m. — Lilieae
7:30 to 8 p.m. — Lea Marra and the Dream Catchers
8 to 8:30 p.m. — Grav
8:30 to 9 p.m. — AJ & the Woods
Friday, Jan. 29 at The Winchester
6:30 to 7 p.m. — Chris wild
7 to 7:40 p.m. — Apostle Jones Band
8 to 8:40 p.m. — C-Level