Daughtry headlines Camp Jack Hazard benefit

Camp Jack Hazard is back with a Spring Fling in hopes of making more summer fun.

The annual benefit for the High Sierra wilderness adventure camp for Stanislaus County youths is partnering again with B93 FM and its parent company, iHeartMedia, to present the show at the Gallo Center for the Arts on Friday, March 25. The show will feature rock act Daughtry led by former “American Idol” contestant Chris Daughtry, up-and-coming singer Daya, and Modesto Area Music Association Award-winning singer-songwriter Josh Rosenblum.

This is the second year the Modesto-based nonprofit Jack and Buena Foundation, which owns and operates Camp Jack Hazard, has joined forces with B93 to put on the benefit. Jack and Buena Foundation Executive Director Jason Poisson said the event is the group’s largest fundraiser of the year, accounting for 40 to 45 percent of the camp’s budget. Last year, the event raised roughly $24,000. This year, Poisson said he is hoping to raise around $33,000.

Bigger benefits have meant more kids are able to go to the camp, which has been running for more than 90 years. In 2014 the camp sent 246 youths, and last year that jumped to 377 kids.

“We’ve created an event to look forward to. People know it supports kids going to Camp Jack Hazard,” Poisson said. “Camp Jack Hazard has touched a lot of kids over its 90 years. It’s not just kids going today, but their parents who went 20 years ago. And their grandparents 40 years ago, and back even farther.”

Founded in 1924 by its real-life namesake, the camp has been a getaway for Stanislaus County youths in the High Sierra. Since 2011 the nonprofit foundation has run the camp, taking over from the now-defunct YMCA of Stanislaus County.

This is the fifth year the foundation has put on the benefit concert with past bills featuring Oakdale native and national recording artist Brett Dennen and other popular area acts. Last year’s event featured Lifehouse.

Daughtry was founded by frontman Chris Daughtry in 2006. He appeared on the fifth season of “American Idol” and parlayed that success into a best-selling, self-titled debut album later that year. The release hit the top of the Billboard 200 and produced the hit singles “It’s Not Over,” “Home” and “Over You.” He followed that up with another No. 1 album in 2009, “Leave This Town,” which included the single “No Surprise.”

Last month Daughtry released a greatest hits album, “It’s Not Over … The Hits So Far,” and its lead single, “Torches,” has gotten recent radio play. The group has earned four Grammy nominations and taken home five American Music Awards and six Billboard Music Awards.

Seventeen-year-old singer-songwriter Daya broke out last year with her debut hit “Hide Away,” which is currently No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100. Opening the show will be Modesto singer-songwriter Rosenblum, who performs locally with his group the Josh Rosenblum Band.

“I am looking and hoping for a sell-out show. We’re very excited to see the energy that people are putting toward this show in Stanislaus County,” Poisson said. “It’s been a wonderful and great partnership with iHeartMedia for us.”

This story was originally published March 15, 2016 at 2:43 PM with the headline "Daughtry headlines Camp Jack Hazard benefit."