ITHACA, NY – Mark Rust, well known Ithaca songwriter (“Ithaca Sunset”) will present a program of Holiday Music at the First Unitarian Society of Ithaca, 306 N Aurora St on Sunday, December 20th at 7pm. Mark will be joined by John Simon with special guests Terry Burns & Russell Posegate. In lieu of admission, donations will be accepted, with all proceeds going to the Friendship Donations Network.

This family friendly program will include traditional American Christmas carols & popular songs, Hanukkah songs, Gospel music of the African American church and African Kwanzaa celebration music, Holiday songs from Europe & Latin America, as well as some beautifully hypnotic pieces for Santur (hammered dulcimer) to celebrate the Hindu celebration of Diwali.

Mark starred in the Broadway Musical Hit Pump Boys & Dinettes, and has appeared in People Magazine performing with Pete Seeger and Peter, Paul & Mary. He has released several recordings including “Our Families Came to Sing” featuring Tom Chapin, “Home Fires” featuring Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul & Mary) and Jay Ungar (PBS Civil War series), “Legacy” featuring songs of family & growing up, and his most recent CD “Live at the Ithaca Festival”. He can currently be seen playing music in the new Terrence Malick film “The Better Angels” about Abraham Lincoln’s boyhood years.

Friendship Donations Network, which was founded in 1988 by Sara Pines, rescues fresh, nutritious food that would otherwise be thrown away at area stores and farms. Volunteers distribute the free food to neighbors in need through pantries and programs that serve more than 2,100 people weekly throughout Tompkins County and beyond. Each year FDN diverts over 500,000 lbs. of good food from local landfills. More information at www.friendshipdonations.org