Bruce Springsteen promotes Carrboro-based anti-death penalty group during Greensboro concert

When Bruce Springsteen performed in Greensboro Monday, the celebrity didn’t just sing — he also promoted a political message.

Since 2000, Bruce Springsteen has promoted People of Faith Against the Death Penalty, a Carrboro-based anti-death penalty group, during his concerts in North Carolina.

It’s typical for him to dedicate songs to the organization. But this year, four tickets and side-stage passes to the concert were auctioned off as a donation toward the effort. Stephen Dear, executive director of the organization, said tickets were sold within 24 hours for $1,500.

Dear said he finds it remarkable that a global figure is reaching out to the local group, which was founded in 1994 and works to educate and mobilize faith communities to end the death penalty in the United States.

“He cares about a lot of social justice issues,” Dear said. “He wants to help.”

Dear said Springsteen’s help has been a huge asset to his group — and People of Faith Against the Death Penalty isn’t the only local organization that has benefitted from celebrity presence.

Celebrities create visibility

Dear said the Carrboro group has developed a contact list of more than 50,000 people, and Springsteen’s influence has helped increase their popularity.

“It carries weight when a cultural figure that so many people enjoy speaks out about your cause,” Dear said. “It generates great public support.”

And local celebrity-led groups agree that having the involvement of an icon helps them to spread awareness.

Mia Hamm, former UNC student and gold medalist soccer player, established the Mia Hamm Foundation in 1999 to raise funds and awareness to those in the need for marrow and cord blood transplants.

And Michael Jordan gave $1 million to the University to establish the Jordan Institute for Families in 1996.

Michelle Brunner, executive director of Hamm’s foundation, said that the soccer star plays a major role in her group.

“She spends some of the year here in Chapel Hill,” Brunner said. “Mia is very involved with everything we do here.”

Brunner said that every October the foundation hosts a golfing event. She said Mia routinely invites former teammates, other well-known athletes and celebrities to raise money and awareness for the foundation.

The Jordan Institute also has events throughout the year to raise donations and awareness of its core mission to strengthen families and engage communities.

Earlier in the year, the institute hosted a program addressing child welfare called “The Wicked Problem.” Around 80 people traveling from seven different states arrived at the Carolina Inn to promote the institution’s mission, said Jack Richman, dean of the school of social work.

Richman said he notices the celebrity’s influence.

“People get very excited that Michael is supportive of the school,” he said.

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