Going to ‘war’ for Camp Anchor

What: The Shine a Light Music Festival featuring The War On Drugs, Dean & Britta and Wormburner, a benefit show for Camp Anchor.
When: Saturday, July 21. Doors open at 7 p.m.; show starts at 8 p.m.
Where: Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall in Wantagh.
Tickets: $35 to $40 at Ticketfly http://www.ticketfly.com/event/117715/

Martin Brull, co-founder of the Tommy Brull Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising money to benefit people with physical, mental, and emotional challenges, is no stranger to organizing fundraisers.

Founded in 2008 in memory of his brother, Tommy, a counselor at Camp Anchor who died in an accident 12 years ago, the foundation has raised more than $100,000 for multiple charities, including Camp Anchor’s building fund, Billy’s Buddies and The Young Autism Program, and sponsors several fundraising events throughout the year.

Last year, however, Brull, a Rockville Centre resident and local surfer, said he was looking to do something different. Because he and his brother shared a love of music — especially indie rock and punk — Brull thought it would be cool to put together a benefit concert.

“Part of the mission of the foundation was to get people together to remember Tommy in a way that reflected the kind of person he was,” Brull said. “He and I always attended concerts and shared a love of music. My dream has been to do a benefit concert featuring bands Tommy would have enjoyed, and have it grow year after year.”

So Brull launched the Shine a Light Music Festival last year, a fundraiser for Camp Anchor, with the proceeds earmarked for a new building fund dedicated to three camp counselors — sisters Paige and Jamie Malone and Michael Mulhall — who were killed in a car accident in 2010.

Tommy, along with Martin and their sister, Lauren, grew up working at Camp Anchor, which serves children and adults with special needs. When Martin heard about the counselors’ deaths, it hit very close to home, he said.

The event, held at Mulchay’s in Wantagh, featured performances from acclaimed bands such as Deer Tick, Wormburner and Bad Boy Bench.

“Everyone has to go to the city to see good bands, and we wanted a local venue that could attract good talent,” Brull said. “Last year with Deer Tick — everyone was excited about that and had a great time. Mostly, people were impressed that we were able to get the quality of bands that we did, these up and coming artists.”