The yearly performance at Spanish Fork High School was highly anticipated by the members of Light, a company of teenagers from Mesa, Ariz. who perform a show similar to the Young Ambassadors.

But Tim Filichia Sr., director of the singing and dancing troupe, could not imagine carrying it out -- he'd just lost his son. Tim Filichia Jr., a BYU student, died in a car accident just two weeks before the trip was scheduled, and the elder Filichia was still sorting out his emotions.

Spanish Fork High School can anticipate some visitors, however. Light will perform a joint benefit concert in honor of the younger Filichia and the Jason Long Foundation at 7:30 Friday night at 300 W. Center Street in Spanish Fork. Admission is free, but donations are welcomed.

What changed Filichia's mind?

The elder Filichia happened upon the Web site his son had been looking at the day before he'd died. It was about the Jason Long Foundation, a non-profit group organized to raise money for cancer research in honor of Jason Long. Long was a BYU football recruit from Alpine who had died of leukemia before he ever got to put on his Cougars jersey. Filichia knew his son would want him to help this group, and he knew they could use this trip to do it.

"This gave us a purpose," Filichia said.

Singing with a purpose is what this group does best, after all. It is a non-profit organization, and their performances are used to benefit the lives of others.

Jeanette Lefrandt, a BYU student from Mesa, Ariz., who was a member of Light and now does choreography for them, said the focus really is on helping others.

"They're just trying to shed a little light," she said.



Copyright Brigham Young University 26 Oct 2007