Music from multiple genres and styles will fill the school library this Friday at 6:30 p.m. as GoMAD students aim to raise $1,000 for Shelter trust HIV, an orphanage in India.

“The benefit concert has always been a tradition in GoMAD,” senior and co-president Sara Varghese said. “We have so many talented performers at Lovejoy that this just seems like a good way to bring the community together for a great cause.”

The concert will feature performances from high school students and from other schools as well.

“There will be student performers as well as a photo booth and various concession stands,” senior and co-president Shelbin Mattathil said. “We hope to raise enough money to provide adequate housing, nutrition, and education for orphans born HIV-positive in India.”

GoMAD has been a non-profit organization since its initial start-up in 2012 by Arjun and Anisha Srivastava, LHS graduates of 2013.

“GoMad has allowed me to realize the widespread effect of this pandemic in a third-world country,” senior and council member Maddie Tober said. “[This organization] has really helped me realize how truly blessed I am.”

The community-wide event has significantly impacted GoMAD by not only spreading awareness, but by also creating publicity for the organization.

“Teachers, administrators, choir, band, orchestra members as well as friends and family are all a huge support to make this event so successful and impactful,” Varghese said.

The concert is purposefully scheduled near December 1, World AIDS Day, in order to raise awareness on the pandemic.

“The main focus will always be the kids in India,” Varghese said. “We want to be able to [collect] enough funding to provide these kids with homes and the right kind of care and support. Through all this we want to raise awareness of HIV and reduce the stigma that goes along with it.”