'Pier Pressure' Sandy Relief Concert Comes to Seaside Heights Sunday

After a successful December concert raised $15,000 to benefit Superstorm Sandy victims, two Toms River teens are hoping to double that amount during a Sunday fundraiser in Seaside Heights. 

The "Pier Pressure" concert spearheaded by Sara Brilliant, a 14-year-old Toms River High School North freshman and 16-year-old Amanda Kacperowski, a junior at Monsignor Donovan, kicks off at 5 p.m. Sunday at Hemingway's Cafe, 612 Boulevard in Seaside Heights. 

Scheduled to perform are the bands Before You Exit, Deleasa, Love in Motion, Reverse Order and Fountain Boulevard. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $75 for a VIP package. 

Tickets can be purchased online here, and sponsorship opportunities are available (see attached flyer). All proceeds will be donated to the New Jersey Amusement Association's First Responder Relief Fund.

"We could only reach our goal with great sponsorships from local businesses in our community and fans coming out to support the show through ticket sales," Kacperowski said in an email to Patch. 

Brilliant and Kacperowski met Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno earlier this week during a gala in Point Pleasant where they donated the money raised by their first Pier Pressure concert held at Intermediate School East in December. Funds were given to six recipients through the NJAA First Responder Relief Fund. 

"The recipients were selected from over 40 applications. They helped others, putting their own lives on the line in the storm while their own homes were devastated," said Cindy Kacperowski, Amanda's mother. "They are the true heroes."

The teens met online last October through social media while talking about a local band. After Sandy struck, they began talking about the damage and how they could help.

"Since the hurricane destroyed a lot of homes and our friends' houses are gone and the boardwalk is gone, we thought it'd be fun if we put together a bunch of good bands and brought the community together to help raise money," Brilliant said.