(RED BANK and OCEANPORT, NJ – JULY 7 2020) – The Count Basie Center’s ‘Drive-In Live’ concerts at Monmouth Park won’t just feature stars onstage. Thirty cars full of frontline healthcare workers from Hackensack Meridian Health and RWJBarnabas Health will be attending as guests of the Basie Center as a thank you for their dedication and bravery during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“No amount of gratitude could ever express how thankful we are for these men and women who put their lives on the line to assure the health of our community,” said Adam Philipson, President and CEO, Count Basie Center for the Arts. “These doctors, nurses, physician assistants, EMTs and support staffers are heroes, so the very least we could do is give them a summer night out to enjoy live music with their friends, families and coworkers.”

In addition to hosting healthcare workers, the concerts – featuring sold-out performances from Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes and comedian Jim Gaffigan this weekend, plus Almost Queen on July 29 and comedian Iliza Shlesinger July 30 – will benefit the nonprofit Basie Center, plus raise proceeds for the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund and the New Jersey Arts and Culture Recovery Fund.

“Hackensack Meridian Riverview Medical Center is thrilled and thankful that our partners at the Count Basie Center for the Arts are able to offer this exciting and safe way for people to reconnect with entertainment following the height of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Kelli O’Brien, Chief Hospital Executive Riverview Medical Center. “We know that the organization is taking extraordinary precautions to keep customer’s safe and we are grateful for their diligence in helping us to avoid the spread of this terrible virus, while still offering the community a chance to enjoy the great performances for which they are known.”

In addition to hosting healthcare workers, the concerts – featuring sold-out performances from Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes and comedian Jim Gaffigan this weekend, plus Almost Queen on July 29 and comedian Iliza Shlesinger July 30 – will benefit the nonprofit Basie Center, plus raise proceeds for the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund (NJPRF) and the New Jersey Arts and Culture Recovery Fund.

“Monmouth Medical Center is proud of its long history of support for the Basie Center as well as Monmouth Park and the borough of Oceanport – three groups dedicated to creating and maintaining strong community partnerships,” said Monmouth Medical Center President and CEO Eric Carney. “It’s so inspiring particularly in times of crisis to see our community come together to support each other. This generous invitation to our frontline heroes to attend these innovative, sold-out Drive-In Live concerts and the concerts’ support for the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund and the New Jersey Arts and Culture Recovery Fund are truly a testament to the power of people to come together in a crisis to help each other.”

“The efforts of Count Basie Center and Monmouth Park on behalf of NJPRF are deeply appreciated,” said Tammy Murphy, First Lady of New Jersey and founder of NJPRF. “In the few months since its inception, the Fund received an incredible outpouring of support from around the state, country and globe. Being a Monmouth County resident, it is especially encouraging to see cornerstones of our community stepping up to help those most impacted by the pandemic.”

“The New Jersey Arts and Culture Recovery Fund hosted by the Princeton Area Community Foundation was established to ensure the survival and strength of the state’s arts and cultural sector during and after the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jeremy Grunin, Fund Coalition Member. “We are grateful to the Count Basie Center for the Arts’ willingness to look beyond their four walls and to be thoughtful of the future of arts and culture throughout the state.”

Tickets for this weekend’s Drive-In Live show are sold out. Tickets for Almost Queen and Iliza Shlesinger on July 29 and 30 are on sale now through Ticketmaster.com.