By Jody Holland

Lafayette Oxford Foundation for Tomorrow (LOFT) invites you and your visiting guests to join us at The Lyric on Friday, Oct. 9 before the Ole Miss versus New Mexico State Game for our benefit concert featuring The Molly Ringwald Band. 

Hailed as the “The World’s Great ’80’s Experience,” the Molly Ringwald Band is a quintet that combines their individual and very formidable talents to create the true essence of the more radical decade — the ’80s. The Molly Ringwalds create an ’80s experience by honing their abilities to apply makeup and tease their hair while showcasing all the musical genres of the decade. From their days of building a following at a pub located in a large portion of a big city near a small village located south of a place you’ve never heard of, to selling out large venues in the United States, The Molly Ringwalds are an indescribable act.

LOFT’s mission is to improve quality of life within Oxford and Lafayette County communities. The purpose of the fundraiser is to support an endowment fund, which is a permanent source of funding for community enrichment that will remain in perpetuity, truly reaching everyone in Oxford and Lafayette County.

LOFT was founded in 2002, and, our board of directors maintains local decision-making regarding how funds are raised, and to whom it makes awards through its annual grant cycle. The grants are awarded yearly and open to any 501(c) 3 organization. Since 2005, LOFT has awarded 86 grants totaling more than $225,000 to many local community organizations. LOFT’s fingerprints are on many important projects serving our community, such as the restoration of the historic Burns Belfry Church and Community Center, Oxford Skate Park, Boys & Girls Clubs of North Mississippi, Veterans Memorial Park, Oxford Medical Ministries and the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, among many others. To learn more, visit LOFTMS.org.

Advanced tickets for the event are $35 and $50 day of show. LOFT also is offering a $20 student ticket. Tickets can me be purchased at thelyricoxford.com. For information, call Jean Jordon at 662-816-6777.

Doors open at 7 p.m., with ROXFORD University (Rox U) http://roxu.org/index.html opening the night at 7:30. As Oxford’s new rock band school, Rox U students will perform. The Molly Ringwalds start at 8 p.m.

Jody Holland is executive director or LOFT and can be reached at jholland@olemiss.edu.