Zamily Members Support Camp Southern Ground at Gatherings

What started as informal “gatherings” before Zac Brown Band shows have evolved into opportunities for fan club members — know as the Zamily — to show their generosity and raise money for Camp Southern Ground.

“People are crazy motivated to raise money for this camp,” said dedicated Zamily member Amy Biedron of Aurora, Illinois. “Sure we want to get together and visit, but the last few months we’ve really focused on raising money for Camp Southern Ground.”

A neonatal intensive care unit nurse who tries to make it to at least one show a month, Biedron was involved in fundraising efforts at the gatherings before the Pittsburgh and Milwaukee shows. “We weren’t terribly organized… but we held raffles and raised more than $500.” Other gatherings, she said, have raised several thousands of dollars.

“All the members of the Zamily know about Camp Southern Ground and we’re always coming up with new ways to raise money.” For example, the restaurant where the gathering will be held before the Moline, Illinois show has agreed to donate 10% of food and drink sales from the function to the camp. “People are posting how they are raising money on the Zamily Facebook page. There’s a lot of excitement about doing this.”

“We’ve raised thousands of dollars in just the past few gatherings,” she said, “and there’s more to come. This camp is a big deal for all of us in the Zamily.”

Ohio Sisters Raise More Than $1,000 for Camp Southern Ground

“They raised exactly $1,091.35,” said Jenny Davis, mother of Alli, 13, and Abby, 10. “They saw the camp video online and decided to take it on.”

Davis explained she’s a Zac Brown Band fan, and the family has a close friend with a handicapped daughter who inspires their efforts. “I have raised some money for the camp before, but they did this all on their own.”

The girls started fundraising in May, Davis said, and had a car wash, made and sold pins, and held a pool party at their community pool. They got the use of the pool donated, David explained, and then asked partygoers for contributions.

 

As they collected funds, “they put the money in a dream jar.” Davis, who hails from Lisbon, Ohio, donated the money while in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania to attend the band’s July 15 show. “I just donated it today,” she said excitedly.

Davis said next on her industrious and generous daughters’ list is actually going to the camp to volunteer. “They want to go down there and work with the kids,” she said, “I am very, very proud of them.”