Rhett’s Roadies has lined up ten Texas musicians who will take the stage at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth, Texas on Sunday, Oct. 2 to give an acoustic performance benefiting The Down Syndrome Partnership of North Texas, KinderFrogs at TCU and The Fort Worth Dream Park. Named after five-year-old Rhett Gabbert, Rhett's Roadies is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that organizes an annual fund-raising event to benefit North Texas children with Down syndrome.
“Our family has been huge followers of the Texas Country Music scene and have come to know many of the artists,” said Mattie Gabbert, Rhett’s mom. “Rhett and our younger son, Knox, come with us as often as possible to hear these artists play and they have come to know and love them. We are so grateful that they are taking time out of their busy schedule to support Rhett and give a free concert to help raise money for kids with Down syndrome.”
In addition to the live and silent auction, this year’s event will feature acoustic performances by Austin Allsup (will be a contestant on NBC's “The Voice” this season), Steve Helms, Austin Meade, Jason Eady, Courtney Patton, Dalton Domino, Parker McCollum and three special guests. Since the event’s inception five-years-ago, Rhett’s Roadies has raised more than $200k for organizations that support children with Down syndrome and special needs.
So far this year, Rhett’s Roadies has raised $10,000 and their goal is to raise more than the $56,000 fund-raising record from 2014. There are four levels of sponsorship open to companies and individuals: VIP Level Sponsor ($3,000); Junior VIP Level Sponsor ($1,500); Rockin’ Roadie Level Sponsor ($750) and Junior Roadie Level Sponsor ($250). Their current sponsors include Moritz Chevrolet of Fort Worth (VIP), Mechanical Air Contractors of Rowlett, Texas (VIP), Rock in' T-2 Ranch (Junior VIP), DFW Auto Finance of Lake Worth, Texas (Junior VIP) and Fish Creek Restaurant of Willow Creek, Texas (Junior VIP).
Mattie says that Rhett is the most amazingly sweet, loving little guy, but like most five-year-olds he has been known to give his parents a run for their money. “Rhett is such a people-person and he absolutely loves music and animals,” shared Mattie. “A child with Down syndrome is the most amazing gift that changes your life for the better. You will meet a whole new group of friends and have a whole new lookout on life. It's a hard and gratifying journey worth every minute of ups and downs.”
Mattie and her husband Jerad have been married for almost eight years and have two sons, five-year-old Rhett and three-year-old Knox. Both of the boys attend KinderFrogs School at TCU, a family-focused, early intervention program that provides a developmentally appropriate educational environment for children with Down syndrome and other developmental delays. The Gabberts currently live in Aledo and have five goats, two donkeys and two chickens.
To learn more about Rhett’s Roadies visit https://www.facebook.com/RhettsRoadies or https://www.instagram.com/rhettsroadies. To become a sponsor email rhettsroadies@yahoo.com.