To finance this spring’s Livingston CARES Alternative Spring Break Trip to Disney World, David Parfitt, director of Geneseo’s Teaching and Learning Center, organized a benefit show on Saturday Oct. 20 in the KnightSpot featuring comedic pianist “Yehaa” Bob Jackson.
For four years, students from Geneseo have volunteered for Give Kids the World, a foundation that provides children with life-threatening illnesses the opportunity to fulfill their wish of traveling to Orlando, Fla. to visit the Walt Disney World Resort.
Students head down to Florida during spring break each year to the GKTW Village, in Disney World, that offers housing, meals and park tickets to the families of the children they support.
Jackson has been performing his “Wild Show,” an upbeat, family-friendly act, at Walt Disney World for 15 years. This past weekend, he brought the act to the Geneseo community for the second time.
Families from surrounding areas attended the “Wild Show,” including some from Canada and even a family from Ohio. Jackson brought the audience to its feet by jumping up, dancing and including them in his songs. In his fire engine red pants and matching bowler hat, Jackson’s performance felt like an amusement park act.
Jackson’s songs ranged from Disney classics, like “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” to The Beatles’ “She Loves You,” and popular children’s songs like “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” to involve the kids.
He said that he favors older songs that “everyone knows the words to” because it makes his audience happy.
Jackson certainly did his job well, as all the children danced and itched to be involved whenever he needed help with a song. Parents and grandparents were more than eager to clap and holler whenever Jackson requested. Children marched around the room while their parents waved and sang along to songs they’d likely grown up with.
“Yehaa” Bob’s Wild Show was lively and exciting; although there was small student attendance, there was much support from members of the community and the many families.
Since its conception in 1986, GKTW has helped over 115,000 families make these children’s wishes come true. All of the proceeds for the benefit concert go to support Geneseo students who will be participating in the Alternative Spring Break Trip.