412 Food Rescue hosting virtual concert fundraiser with Wiz Khalifa

A virtual “Yinz Citizen” concert and fundraiser hosted by 412 Food Rescue and featuring appearances by Wiz Khalifa, Anti-Flag, The Commonheart, Joe Grushecky, Donnie Iris and others is set for Nov. 12.

The event is designed to raise money for 412 Food Rescue’s work to combat hunger and food waste. It will feature a cross-section of music including, rock, punk, hip-hop, jazz and classical. It was inspired by Lady Gaga’s April Global Citizen concert to celebrate neighbors being there for neighbors.

“412 Food Rescue and their tireless work to fight food waste and hunger in our communities should be celebrated by all,” said Anti-Flag singer/bassist Chris Barker. “Anti-Flag did a small fundraiser for them selling masks in the early months of the shutdown, and from that a very cool relationship was formed. To be invited by them to be a part of this show is an absolute honor, alongside a seemingly endless list of Pittsburgh legends.”

This is 412 Food Rescue’s fifth anniversary and it had been planning a huge celebration for last July, which was canceled because of pandemic restrictions.

“We wanted to do this in a safe way and we just thought that this was a great way to celebrate all of our partners in our network that help us to move food and insure that it’s reaching people who need it,” said Sara Swaney, senior director of advancement for 412 Food Rescue. “We’re trying to make it as diverse as possible, and the great thing about the cross-section of performers is that it celebrates everything about Pittsburgh.”

Other artists include Liz Berlin, DJ Bonics, The Boilermaker Jazz Band, the Homeless Gospel choir, Byron Nash, Funky Fly Project, Cello Fury, Squonk Opera and Musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

“We’ve been working with Musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra now for at least four years,” Swaney said. “We do a program where musicians come and they play their instruments while we distribute food. It’s really about bringing the arts to people who would not otherwise have access to it.

“So we thought, ‘why not take advantage of these unique partnerships?’ and ‘who else can we pull in who is very recognizable in Pittsburgh?’ while making sure that it’s meeting everyone’s musical interests.”

“Yinz Citizen” will be hosted by Natalie Bencivenga and Day Bracey, with former WTAE-TV anchorwoman Sally Wiggin also appearing. The event will serve as a socially distanced version of the Sunday Supper fundraiser held annually by 412 Food Rescue.

The organization launched in March 2015 to redirect healthy food that would otherwise be discarded by markets and restaurants.

“Over the past five-plus years, and particularly over the course of this pandemic, we have had the privilege of working with so many people from all over the city as we build a community-powered movement to end food waste and hunger,” said 412 Food Rescue co-founder and CEO Leah Lizarondo.

The event will be livestreamed on the yinzcitizen.com website.