Tampa Band Aids Sandy Fund
CHO: Many musicians jumped in to offer help after Superstorm Sandy hit the northeast. There was an epic concert right here at Madison Square Garden. Take a look.</s>CHO: But there were also many smaller benefits across the country, including some put on by two bands from Tampa, "Sticks of Fire" and "Circle 4," made up of high schoolers. The teens raised nearly $6,000 for a relief fund and they did so to help many of those people who were hurt so badly during the superstorm Sandy. Nicholas McDonald of "Sticks of Fire" and George Pennington of "Circle 4" join me now. Good morning. Thanks for coming in early to see us. So, you guys are members of two bands, but you go to the same high school, right?</s>NICHOLAS MCDONALD, "STICKS OF FIRE": Yes.</s>CHO: Now, tell me, you live in Tampa, Florida, more than 1,100 miles away from the destruction here. What is it about what you saw on television and those images that made you want to help? Nick.</s>MCDONALD: Well, mainly, it was being from Florida. We know all the issues that could happen with hurricanes. And after seeing like people losing their homes, I know how they feel about having all that heavy rain and all the storms going on, and it's scary stuff. So, we want to - we're always the ones that get targeted. So, we wanted to help out this time.</s>CHO: So, what did you do? You talked to each other and decided, hey, let's put on a concert, George?</s>GEORGE PENNINGTON, "CIRCLE 4": Yes. We knew something had to be done. So, we worked together and came up with a plan, how to get it started and worked with the head master at our school to put some stuff together, put up flyers around the school, and talked to all of our friends.</s>CHO: And what was the reaction that you got?</s>MCDONALD: It went really well. We got a lot of people coming out. Everyone was so willing to help. We got a lot of support --</s>CHO: How many concerts did you put on there in the Tampa area?</s>MCDONALD: We put on one.</s>CHO: You just put on one.</s>MCDONALD: Yes.</s>CHO: And you raised $6,000?</s>PENNINGTON: Yes.</s>CHO: Where did that -- most of that money come from? Your classmates or -- PENNINGTON Ticket sales, friends, family.</s>CHO: Ticket sales.</s>PENNINGTON: Yes. We sold those tickets for $10.</s>CHO: And you are here in New York for a reason. You're not just on vacation. Are you going to put on another concert?</s>PENNINGTON: We just came here to talk about it.</s>CHO: You came here to talk about it?</s>PENNINGTON: Yes.</s>CHO: OK. Well, hopefully it will lead to another concert here in New York, right?</s>MCDONALD: Oh, yes.</s>CHO: I mean, I guess from your perspective, where do you hope this money goes? What do you want do with this $6,000? Are you going to give a check to the Red Cross or to a relief fund?</s>MCDONALD: We're going to just present the check to the governor's wife, if we could.</s>CHO: Oh, that's great. Great. Well, hopefully, we can help you do that. Now, last night when I was reading in on you two, I was very excited to meet you. I listened to one of your songs. And I know we can take requests now, right? So, you're going to sing one of your songs that I watched on YouTube last night, right? Can you give us about a minute of that?</s>PENNINGTON: Sure. No problem.</s>CHO: And that's "Before You Know." Great song, isn't it?</s>GRIFFIN: Keep playing, guys. It sounds great.</s>CHO: Nicholas McDonald, 17 years old, member of "Sticks of Fire," and George Pennington, 16, member of "Circle 4," trying to help out those victims of hurricane Sandy by holding a benefit concert, and we hope you get a lot more attention for doing that. Thanks so much for coming in. All right. Next up, Taylor Swift being mentioned with the Beatles? We're going to tell you why as we listen to these two kids. Take us to break. We're back after this.