LEWISBURG -- The Buffalo Valley Singers will continue 35 years of community service through music at their upcoming concert on Sunday at 3 p.m. at St. John's United Church of Christ, 1050 Buffalo Road (Route 192). Concert proceeds benefit the Blue Butterfly Fund.

Founded by John and Elizabeth Sterling in memory of their son Bennett, who lost a battle with cancer in 2003 at the age of 18 months, the Blue Butterfly Fund provides financial and emotional support to families of children with cancer. The Fund covers the costs of travel, non-covered medical fees and, if needed, living expenses for the families. Its Web site (www.bluebutterflyfund.org) has a "Prayer Page" for children undergoing cancer treatment and a "Butterfly Blessings" page with inspirational stories. Because butterflies are the universal symbol of hope, and blue is the color of healing, the Sterlings found comfort in their despair when they saw blue butterflies and adopted them to represent their foundation.

Under the direction of Rita Griffith, the Buffalo Valley Singers will perform folk and pop songs from their previous 2008 spring concerts.

Tickets are $5 and available at the door and from any Buffalo Valley Singer.

BVS has raised thousands of dollars for local charities at its annual benefit concerts, including the Heiter Community Center, the West End Library, the Union County Red Cross, Evangelical Hospice and Lifeline, SUN Pediatric Hospice, Habitat for Humanity, and many others. BVS also participates in Evangelical Hospice's Lights of Love and memorial services.

A non-profit organization, Buffalo Valley Singers appreciate the donations made to its Patron Program, which helps cover their expenses. Names of contributors are printed in the concert programs, and the donations are tax deductible.

Since its inception as the Mifflinburg Community Choir in 1973, it has grown to include up to 100 members from a wide area, some coming from as far as Bloomsburg and Mount Pleasant Mills to Lewisburg for practices and performances.

Weekly Monday evening practices for the 2008 Christmas concert, which will be on December 13th and 14th, start on September 15 at 7 p.m. at St. John's UCC. Experienced singers are invited to join by attending rehearsals.

For more information about Buffalo Valley Singers, contact Director Rita Griffith at 966-6918, Publicity Coordinator Judy Patton at 966-4770, or Board President Merdyth Updegraff at 412-5171. Send correspondence or patron contributions to: Buffalo Valley Singers, 1050 Buffalo Road, Lewisburg, PA 17837.