The TRC Foundation will host its third annual Lip Sync Battle, which benefits the Mark Pacheco WOW Fund, at Shawbucks on Friday, Aug. 18.

An annual entertainment-themed benefit to help community members with disabilities will return to downtown Jamestown next month.

On Friday, Aug. 18, the TRC Foundation will present its third annual Lip Sync Battle to benefit the Mark Pacheco WOW Fund, which was established by the TRC Foundation in 2010 following the death of Pacheco. The 38-year-old employee of The Resource Center died as a result of an altercation in downtown Jamestown earlier that year.

The lip-syncing contest is being coordinated by Marcos Figueroa, a personal friend of founder of the Mark Pacheco WOW Fund, who said the money raised will go toward making wishes come true for disabled community members.

“I knew Mark since we were both little kids and I knew he loved his job, so I began this fund in his name to help our individuals while doing something fun,” Figueroa said. “So what we do is raise money to send those with developmental disabilities somewhere they’ve always wanted to go — whether it be to a concert or professional sports event or just on a trip to places like New York City or Niagara Falls. All they have to do is fill out an application; we’re never going to deny them.”

Figueroa said he conceived of hosting the lip-syncing contest in 2015 to raise money for the fund, partly due to Pacheco’s love of karaoke and partly because it’s a unique concept to the area. He said the reception to the previous two contests has been overwhelmingly positive, leading him to coordinate a third benefit with a prize-pack increase.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three performances, which will be determined by a panel of five judges that consists of local arts performers and proponents Heather Skuggen, Paul Clemente and Marla Harris, as well as special guest stars Sabrina Williams and Kelly “Keke” Valasquez-Lord, winner of the Miss Continental Plus 2017 pageant in Chicago.

The first-place prize is $300 and a trophy, while the second- and third-place finishers will receive $125 and $75, respectively. There is a $10 entry fee for contestants, and there is a 10-contestant limit.

Presale tickets are $5, and can be purchased from Support Enterprises Inc., 92 Fairmount Ave. in Jamestown, by calling 951-6118 or by contacting Figueroa on Facebook. Doors open at 9 p.m., and tickets are $10 at the door.

Figueroa said he was assisted in coordinating the Lip Sync Battle by fellow committee members Victoria Bardo, Cindy Phillips, Steven Waterson, Chris Anderson and Mike Suppa. Area businesses wishing to donate a gift certificate to the event can do so by calling 951-6118.

Shawbucks is located at 212 W. Second St. in Jamestown. Additional information, including rules for contestants, can also be found on Facebook.

To learn more about the TRC Foundation, visit trc-foundation.org.