Demun Jones’ Jones County Day Concert once again raised thousands of dollars for the Jones County School System, with this year’s target supporting the arts programs in the schools.
Jones met with School Superintendent Charles Lundy Sept. 21 to present a ‘large’ check in the amount of $22,500. Jones was accompanied by Jones County Lions Club President Denise Thompson.
The Lions Club was a partner in the donation and was responsible for $2,500 of that total, which were the proceeds from the Sept. 17 event’s concessions.
Jones said 1,401 tickets were sold for the concert. He said, as he was performing for the audience, it appeared that about 50 percent of them were kids.
“We all had a good time. I haven’t heard one negative thing about it,” he said.
Thompson said Lions Club members enjoyed their part in the effort. She said they donated their time to cook and serve the crowd and were glad to donate the $2,500.
“That’s a lot of hamburgers and French fries,” Jones commented.
The performer said one of the special parts of the concert were the two songs during which he was joined on stage by members of the Jones County High School Chorus. He worked with chorus director Mystee Wilcox prior to the concert to include the students.
Jones said the chorus members joined him on two songs, “Back Yard Lullaby” and “Family First.”
“I hope to be able to do that again,” he said.
Jones said the community came together to make the concert a success. He said law enforcement officers from Jones County and Gray donated their time as did the ambulance service LifeCare EMS of Georgia.
The performer said the advertising for the concert was donated, and Old Clinton Gas sold the tickets. He said Dairy Queen manned the back gate and made a donation. He said donations were also received from Chuck Gibson and Brandon Spivey Insurance.
Jones said he hopes to have more corporate sponsors next year.
Lundy said the Fine Arts program was a great choice for the funds.
“The arts are usually the end of the line for funding and the first to be cut. People don’t realize the expense of the programs,” he said.
The superintendent said the funds would be divided equitably among the arts programs in the schools from pre-K to the arts program at JCHS.
“We are very appreciative for this donation and David’s previous donations. Our schools continue to benefit from his generosity,” Lundy stated.
Jones has given back to Jones County schools since becoming a performer, with the Jones County Day Concerts beginning in 2016. He had to take a break because of the pandemic, but he was excited to be back.
In addition to the more than $100,000 he has given to the school system, he also gives of his time. At the conclusion of last week’s concert, he stayed to talk and take pictures with fans for at least two hours.
“We visited after the show longer than I was on stage,” Jones said.
