Benefit Gala in Oxford on Oct. 1st

Stars Appearing: Jason Alexander, Debbie Allen – Along with 10 dancers and 1 instructor, Steve Azar, Lance Bass, Jill Conner Brown, Delta Burke, Gary Collins, Cat Cora, Kristian Dambrino, Days of Our Lives – Kristian Alfonso, Deidre Hall, Peter Reckell, Alison Sweeney, Billy Davis, Jr., Morgan Freeman (Host), Kathie Lee Gifford, Whoopi Goldberg, Gary Grubbs, Mary Haskell, Marilu Henner, Faith Hill, Guy Hovis, Kathy Ireland, Hugh Laurie, John Larroquette, Marilyn McCoo, Brian McKnight, Gerald McRaney, Mary Ann Mobley, Gary Morris, Bernadette Peters, Gail Pittman, Doris Roberts, Ray Romano, Jean Smart, Pam Tillis, Sela Ward, Young and the Restless – Greg Rikaart, Melody Thomas Scott, Michelle Stafford, Doug Davidson Article from the Meridian Star JACKSON - For the first time since Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Mississippi Coast, a major national fund-raising concert will originate from the state of Mississippi. The Gala Concert, called Mississippi Rising, will be led by Meridian native Sela Ward and fellow native Mississippians Morgan Freeman, Archie Manning and John Grisham, who are serving as national co-chairmen. The event will be performed Saturday, Oct. 1, on the campus of the University of Mississippi in Oxford. Proceeds for the three-hour show will go to the Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund, which has been established to provide for the rebuilding of storm-ravaged Mississippi. Gov. Haley Barbour welcomed the assistance. "Mississippi Rising is going to be a tremendous boost not just in providing desperately needed funds for our recovery effort but also in bringing national attention to our efforts as we transition from emergency relief to rebuilding Mississippi stronger, bigger and better," he said. "I'm thrilled to be a part of Mississippi Rising," said Ward, "as it will raise much-needed funds for the recovery efforts that lie ahead. Mississippi's gown may be torn and tattered, but she will prevail." The October event is being organized by native Mississippians Sam Haskell III and Lanny Griffith. Haskell, former worldwide head of television for the William Morris Agency, has produced Stars Over Mississippi in Amory every two years to raise scholarship money in the name of his mother. Griffith is the chief executive officer of Washington, D.C.-based lobbying firm Barbour Griffith & Rogers, LLC which was founded in 1991 by Haley Barbour. While the list of entertainers continues to grow, a partial list of those confirmed includes Morgan Freeman, Ray Romano, Whoopi Goldberg, Jason Alexander, Sela Ward, Marilu Henner, Kathie Lee Gifford, Kathy Ireland, Lance Bass, Delta Burke, Gerald McRaney, Jean Smart, Debbie Allen, Doris Roberts, Mary Haskell, Gary Morris, Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis Jr. and Steve Azar. "We are so pleased to be able to host this event at Ole Miss," said Chancellor Robert Khayat. "Although our Oxford campus was largely spared by Katrina's destructive force, we are eager to do our part in rebuilding this remarkable state." The costs of the entire event are being underwritten by a contribution to the Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund by UnitedHealth Group Foundation in Minnesota. Corporate sponsorships are being solicited by a national finance team, and all proceeds will go to the Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund (www.mississippirecovery.com) or a similar fund in Louisiana administered by Foundations for Recovery named The Hurricane Katrina Displaced Residents Fund (www.foundationsforrecovery.org). "I have been devastated by the site of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina," said Executive Producer Sam Haskell. "We are doing Mississippi Rising to help ensure the future of Mississippi is filled with recovery and renewal." The event will be produced by Michael Seligman, a renowned producer of television events. Tickets will be on sale through the University of Mississippi Athletic Department (800) 732-8587 or (662) 915-7167 beginning today. - special to The Star GET INVOLVED What: Mississippi Rising, a concert fund-raiser led by Meridian native Sela Ward and fellow Mississippians Morgan Freeman, Archie Manning and John Grisham, to benefit Hurricane Katrina victims. When: Oct. 1 Where: University of Mississippi, Oxford Tickets and information: Tickets will be on sale through the Ole Miss Athletic Department beginning today. Call (800) 732-8587 or (662) 915-7167.