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With only three days to put together an event that usually requires three months, the USU Public Relations staff were scrambling to get everything organized.
Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband as the headliners and Isaac Hayden as the opening act performed for a benefit concert at the Spectrum Wednesday night to get money to help aid to Pauni family for "Extreme Makeover Home Edition." The Polynesian Student Union ended the night with Polynesian dancing.
The USU PR team was in charge of putting the benefit concert together in three days due to the secrecy of the makeover project.
"As a team, we wanted to make it our goal to make sure that Cache Valley had a great experience," said Allison Furniss, the team lead for the USU Public Relations team. "Our biggest thing was events that the community could feel connected to, like having the benefit concert be a luau to really reflect the family's culture."
One PSU dancer, Fa'aa'e Lata, a senior in sociology, said, "We're blessed to be able to give some sort of contribution to the family. The mom is very open, and she invites us over all the time. I'm getting chills from all of it, they're so deserving. It's so surreal."
"There are no words," said Lyza Luke, who is engaged to Spencer Pauni. "I can't believe it. Every morning you wake up and it's like, is it still happening?"
Furniss said that "Extreme Makeover" originally contacted Politis Communications, a public relations firm in Draper, Utah, but they needed people more local and who knew the area more. She said that because of the team's reputation, they got the project.
"It was really difficult to begin with, to have a project that literally hinges on its secrecy," Furniss said.
Ryan Shupe said, "I was surprised to see that many people out on such short notice. It show the community is committed to helping people out."
Cameron Cope, the events manager for the USU PR team, said that Isaac Haden, the opener for Ryan Shupe, performed completely pro bono and he earned over $1,000 selling his CD's at the door after the concert. He said that Haden gave 100 percent of the money to the Pauni family.
Hayden said the crowd was really supportive and "seemed pretty amped about the concert." He said he was surprised to see so many students come to support the Paunis.
Melanie Fisher, a student at USU, said, "This concert really made the project seem real. It was great to hear such inspirational songs at this kind of event."
Fisher also said the concert was a success in her eyes and she was glad to be a part of it.
Furniss said the money made at the concert was more than $11,000. The number of people in attendance versus the dollar amount that was made was phenomenal, she said, and this concert was more of a success than they could've hoped for.
"I thought it was excellent, we're excited to be a part of it," said Roger Archibald, a member of the Rubberband. "It's good to serve people, to come together for one purpose: to help each other out."
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