FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Gary Sallee, Esq.
317-416-9543
August 17, 2026
Flood Aid for Anderson Fundraising Event Established to Help Anderson Residents Recover from Historic Flooding
ANDERSON, IN — Flood Aid for Anderson, a fundraising concert with an online donation piece, has been created as an opportunity for individuals near and far to combine resources to assist in the reconstruction of lives of Anderson residents in desperate need. Led by Gary and Darla Sallee, the Gaslight Festival committee, Anderson Indiana Main Street and several dedicated volunteer citizens of Anderson, this fundraising concert and community event will take place on Sunday, August 23, during the final day of the Anderson Gaslight Festival, an annual scheduled event which celebrates the Anderson community, from 10am-6pm on Historic W 8th St. at the intersection of Madison Ave. in Anderson, Indiana.
For some Anderson families, the record-breaking flood levels destroyed or severely damaged the place they call home. Personal belongings, furniture, appliances, clothing, important documents and other necessities were lost or damaged. For residents who were already struggling to make ends meet, the sudden loss of their possessions has created an overwhelming challenge.
“When you see the devastation that our neighbors have experienced, you cannot help but want to do something,” said Organizer Darla Sallee. “This is a time for Anderson to come together. These families need our support, and I am pleased to have gotten Mayor Broderick and the City’s approval for this effort to help provide resources to people who are trying to put their lives back together.”
Flood Aid for Anderson is an opportunity for individuals around the globe who view the breathtaking destruction caused by this natural phenomenon and want to help.
This is a means for them to offer donations that can make a real difference in the lives of real people in trouble. No amount is too small when it is combined with others. The event will bring together musical artists, local and international performers, special celebrity guests, community leaders, media personalities and residents for a day centered on one purpose: helping Anderson recover. One hundred percent of the proceeds will be committed to assist Anderson residents in recovery from flood losses. A dedicated donation platform will be established through the Madison County Community Foundation, with an organized fundraising campaign beginning during this week leading up to the August 23 event. Through online broadcasts, media coverage, celebrity appearances, social media outreach and participation from community leaders, organizers hope to reach people throughout Anderson, Madison County, Indiana and beyond.
Donation information: https://tinyurl.com/FloodAidForAnderson
The committed entertainment lineup includes, but is not limited to:
• Nationally touring musician Alex Williams
• Nationally touring musician Joe Denim
• Comedian Pat Godwin from the Bob and Tom Show
Additional performers, guests, and programming will be announced as the event approaches. For families forced from their homes, who have lost everything but their hope and faith, the road ahead may seem uncertain. For residents who lost possessions they worked years to acquire, replacing those items may seem impossible.
This community-wide effort is intended to provide tangible financial assistance while also sending a powerful message of support and encouragement to those affected, reminding the people who have lost so much that they have not been forgotten and they are not alone.
Flood Aid for Anderson operates with the support of the City of Anderson and Anderson Indiana Main Street, and in conjunction with the Anderson Gaslight Festival, the initiative also includes support from the Madison County Community Foundation, Madison County Alliance, Shelly Bond Realty, Ed Paul Fry, Amber Dietz, and others.
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Statement Regarding the Continuation of the Anderson Gaslight Festival
ANDERSON, IN – There have been understandable questions about whether the Gaslight Festival should go forward in light of the devastating flooding our community has experienced. It will and Flood Aid for Anderson will be added to this year's event.
We respect the concerns we have heard. Families in Anderson have suffered significant losses. Some have been displaced from their homes, some have lost possessions that cannot be replaced, and many are facing expenses and uncertainty they never expected. Those families deserve our attention, compassion and support.
But we disagree with those who think canceling or postponing community events is the best way to provide that support.
The Gaslight Festival has always been about community. It brings neighbors together, supports local businesses, provides opportunities for local organizations, and reminds us of the pride we share in Anderson. After what our community has endured, those things are more important—not less important.
And Flood Aid for Anderson has been organized for precisely that reason. It is not intended to distract attention from the flood victims. It is intended to focus attention on them.
Flood Aid will bring together entertainers, businesses, community organizations, local leaders and residents for one purpose: to raise money and support for the people in our community who need it most. The money raised will be handled through the Madison County Community Foundation so that the event can translate the generosity of our community into meaningful assistance for those affected by the flooding.
There is also an economic reality we should not overlook. When community events are canceled, local restaurants, bars, retailers, vendors, musicians, nonprofit organizations and their employees lose business and income. Many of those people live right here in the same community that was affected by the flooding.
We can mourn what has happened. We can help our neighbors clean up and rebuild. We can donate money, supplies, labor and time. And we can still gather as a community.
Those things are not inconsistent.
In difficult times, strong communities do not simply shut down. They show up. They help. They support one another. And they find ways to move forward together. That is what the Gaslight Festival represents.
And that is exactly what Flood Aid for Anderson is intended to accomplish.
We invite everyone—whether you attend the Festival, volunteer, make a donation, sponsor Flood Aid for Anderson, support a local business, or simply help a neighbor—to be part of Anderson’s response.
The flood may have damaged our community, but it does not define our community. How we respond to it will.
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