While the proverbial curtain has closed on the 2026 Concerts for a Cause series at Lanier Islands Resort, the good vibes are still reverberating throughout North Georgia. Proceeds from ticket sales for the three-concert series totaled $28,000, of which half benefited Georgia Mountain Food Bank and the other half benefited the Lake Lanier Association. Those funds will further the missions of both nonprofits, which hold great meaning for the lakeside destination.
“We’d like to thank everyone who attended our Concerts for a Cause, which were not only a lot of fun, but were also really impactful,” said Matthew Bowling, President of Lanier Islands Resort. “For 60 years, the Lake Lanier Association has proven critical to the future of the Northeast Georgia region, working diligently to keep Lake Lanier clean, full, and safe. The funds we raised will support cleanup events like the LLA’s annual Shore Sweep, as well as monthly water quality testing, and ongoing safety efforts. For Georgia Mountain Food Bank, the funds raised will provide an estimated 70,000 meals for our neighbors in need. Both organizations are essential to the future of our region, and we are proud to support them.”
Based in Gainesville, the Georgia Mountain Food Bank serves five counties throughout North Georgia and, in 2025 alone, provided 8.8 million meals to 88,000 people suffering from food insecurity. Its mission is to address hunger, health, and quality of life by serving those in need.
Also headquartered in Gainesville, the Lake Lanier Association is the premier advocate for Lake Lanier. Together with its 4,500 members, the LLA strives to preserve Lake Lanier’s water quality and quantity for everyone who relies on the lake and its watershed to enhance their quality of life.
Both have major events on the horizon, with the LLA’s Shore Sweep on September 19 and the 60th Anniversary Gala on November 12, and Georgia Mountain Food Bank’s Empty Bowl 2026 event on September 25.
Phil Dennis, Development Director for Georgia Mountain Food Bank, shared, “We are deeply grateful to Lanier Islands for their generosity and to everyone who has supported the concert series. Together, we are helping ensure that no family in our community goes hungry.”
Victoria Clevenger, Executive Director for the Lake Lanier Association, also stated, “Lanier Islands is a leader in community engagement, and we’re grateful for the platform to bring more individuals into the LLA mission – it’s truly remarkable what we can accomplish together. Thank you, Lanier Islands, for helping raise awareness of our mission to keep Lake Lanier Clean, Full, and Safe.”Hosted at the picturesque lakeside Peachtree Pointe Amphitheater, the Concerts for a Cause Series featured Jimmy Buffett Tribute Band, Lost in Paradise, in July; the Ultimate Eagles Experience, The Long Run, in August; and concluded with the Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band, Rumours ATL, on Labor Day Weekend in September.
Bowling announced plans to bring the series back in Summer 2027 and encouraged music fans to take part in the upcoming Songwriters at the Lake Music Festival at the resort November 13-15, 2026. Featuring a collection of legendary songwriters, the songs that made them famous, and the stories behind them on eight stages throughout the resort, tickets for the three-day festival are just $129/person and can be purchased at https://www.lanierislands.com/special-events/songwriter-festival/.
