Mesch AZA presents Jam4Sam proceeds to UAB

On Monday night, members of Mesch AZA had dinner at Max’s Deli — but the real business of the dinner was to present a check for $5,800 to Dr. Raymond Watts, director of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology.

The funds were raised at the third annual Jam4Sam, held Nov. 20 outside Max’s Deli at the Colonnade in Birmingham. The Jewish youth group held the third annual fundraiser in memory of Sam Lapidus, to coincide with his birthday. Lapidus would have been 18 on Nov. 14.

Lapidus, a member of Mesch, died on Nov. 5, 2008 at the age of 14 after a long battle with Ewing’s sarcoma. Proceeds from the concert benefit childhood cancer research at UAB. Six bands played during the afternoon.

The first year, the fundraiser brought in $2,000. The 2010 event topped $5,000.

In addition to admission fees and donations, Max’s Deli donated a percentage of their sales to the cause, and provided gift cards at a discount that the AZA members then sold at full price with the difference going toward the fundraiser.