[SLIDESHOW] Block party for the hundreds

By Katie Saltz

With music blasting and drinks flowing, more than 1,000 people ventured to different bars on South Limestone on Friday night for a block party to raise money for cancer research.

Students hopped between The Paddock, Two Keys Tavern and The Tin Roof to participate in the event hosted by Happy Hour for Humanity. Money from ticket sales went to benefit the Huntsman Cancer Institute and the Ronald McDonald House, and the bars donated 10 percent of their sales from Friday night to the cause.

Caitie Pennington, a social work graduate student, came out to the block party after hearing some friends talk about the event. Pennington said she was not disappointed with the festivities.

“I heard there was a benefit (Friday night) so I thought I’d come out to support it,” she said. “It’s amazing — all the bars are humming, there’s all kinds of great music. It’s been a lot of fun and (I’ve) met a lot of people.”

Happy Hour for Humanity, a Kentucky-based non-profit, was co-founded by Rock Daniels, a local realtor in town. While the organization has hosted several fundraising events over the past ten months, this weekend was an opportunity to get more students involved.

Daniels said his event concepts work because people love to go out anyway.

“We just bring a lot of people out, have a good time and raise money,” he said.

Daniels said when the organization first started, he chose recipients dealing with issues close to his heart, but once events started getting more publicity he was getting three of four requests a week.

“It’s just one of those things where I feel good at night when I lay my head down … I like helping people,” he said.
Daniels said the organization is looking at doing an event for the Make a Wish Foundation and another for DanceBlue.

Daniels did not know the total amount of money raised at Friday’s event as of Sunday, but said all of the 10 percent of bar profits would go directly to the charity.