Dugan's Pub, in the village of Pinehurst, is hosting a fundraiser for the Northern Moore Family Resource Center Friday, March 4, from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Performing for the evening will be Mario Paparozzi and several of his friends. A longtime resident of New Jersey, Paparozzi has performed with many musicians, including Bruce Springsteen and B.B. King among others. He now lives in Southern Pines and is the chairman of the sociology and criminal justice department at UNC Pembroke. The university is actively helping organizations in Robbins, as well as the town itself, with economic development activities.

The Northern Moore Family Resource Center is operating as a VITA site for the first time this year, and UNC Pembroke faculty and students are volunteers. VITA stands for Volunteer Individual Tax Assistance, and VITA sites provide free tax preparation for any families with incomes of $49,000 or less. All VITA sites are a partnership between the IRS and the organizations providing the help.

The Resource Center offers free tax preparation on Tuesdays from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. and on the first and third Saturdays of the month, through April 16. For an appointment, call Jessica Reinholz at (910) 948-4324.

The Resource Center also operates free after-school programs for children at Robbins Elementary School, Elise Middle School and Westmoore Elementary School, as well as a six-week, free summer day camp. Both the after-school program and the summer program serve more than 200 children.

Through a partnership with Sandhills Community College, the Resource Center provides transportation to students attending SCC's northern campus to take ESL and GED courses.

The Resource Center also offers the BudgetWhys IDA program, which helps struggling families become homeowners through financial education and matching funds for down payments on homes. BudgetWhys is a partnership between the Resource Center and Moore County Community Development.

"Please support the Resource Center by spending Friday, March 4, at Dugan's Pub listening to great music," says Clare Ruggles, executive director of the center. "A $5 cover fee will be donated directly to the Resource Center.

"We are so excited that Alan Riley, the owner of Dugan's, has offered to host this event. It's important for the southern end of Moore County to be aware of the needs of their neighbors to the north."

Proceeds will help cover the cost of the 2011 summer camp. The Northern Moore Family Resource Center is a United Way agency, and the United Way has provided about one-third of the cost of summer camp in past years. The Resource Center must raise the remaining two-thirds locally.

"The Resource Center acknowledges with grateful appreciation significant past and ongoing support from St. Joseph of the Pines, Sandhills Duplicate Bridge Players Association, Community Presbyterian Church, The Village Chapel, Tabernacle United Methodist Church, The First Baptist Church of Robbins, The Junior League of Moore County, Pinehurst Surgical Clinic, Carolina Fried Chicken and House of Pizza, employees of Fidelity Bank, Brothers of the Horizon, local Robbins community organizers who arranged a toy drive this past Christmas, and numerous individuals from all parts of Moore County," says Ruggles.

For more information about this event or about the Resource Center, call (910) 948-4324.