Lehigh Valley Community Benefit

by Stacey Solt, Photography by Brent Hugo

April 26, 2012

3:58 PM

It is in times of tragedy that a community shows its true colors.

In June 2010, the tiny town of Northampton was struck by a brutal quadruple murder. This event changed countless lives and shook the small town’s innocence. It also brought people together, as tragedies in a close-knit community tend to do, with neighbors and strangers gathering to support the loved ones left behind.

Two years later, the most visible outpouring of this support continues to shine in Northampton. The annual Lehigh Valley Community Benefit, formerly known as the Merhi Children’s Benefit and the Merhi-Zernhelt Community Benefit, has raised thousands of dollars for local families touched by tragedy.

“We’re all Lehigh Valley residents,” says Rick Nauman, a founding member of the benefit. “There are crises all over the world but there are also people who need help right here in the Lehigh Valley. When you donate money to a big corporation’s benefit, you don’t really know if it is helping somebody in your neighborhood. We’re keeping it in the community because we want to help these people.”

Hope after tragedy

The story of the Lehigh Valley Community Benefit’s success is bittersweet. It began with an unspeakable tragedy: Denise Merhi, a mother of two, was murdered in her Northampton home by her ex-boyfriend. Her father and grandfather, Dennis and Alvin Marsh, were also stabbed to death in the home. Neighbor Steven Zernhelt heard their cries for help and was also killed as he rushed to their aid.

This brutal murder inspired area residents to rally support for surviving family members. Among those touched by the death was Chris Wittik, a Northampton resident who knew friends with ties to the Merhi family. Together with a few friends who would form the Benefit’s new committee, they began organizing an event to raise money for Merhi’s two children.

“We wanted to put something together as fast as possible,” says Wittik, noting that they had just six weeks to pull together their first event. “We wanted her kids to be taken care of before they went back to school.”

“We wanted her kids to be taken care of before they went back to school.”

Both Wittik and Nauman had been involved with benefits before. They began actively searching for a location and sponsors.

“After a few phone calls, the Tri-Boro Sportsmen’s Club stepped up and donated their club for us,” Nauman says. “The community support was overwhelming.”

The Merhi Children’s Benefit took place in August 2010 and included a 60-mile motorcycle ride. Several committee members had been involved or attended motorcycle benefits in the past, and thought this would be a good way to raise money while also increasing awareness and showing support for the family.

“We all ride and decided to do a motorcycle run throughout the Valley,” he says. “We wanted to get people out there, to see all of the motorcycles out there. It’s a good way to get our name out.”

“It’s not all about motorcycles,” Nauman adds. “But the riders in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas are so supportive. If someone has an accident and has medical bills, you’ll have 50 to 100 riders show up whom you’ve never met before.”

Get Involved

Tickets for this year’s Lehigh Valley Community Benefit are available at the Tri-Boro Sportsmen’s Club in Northampton and Fossil’s Last Stand in Catasauqua, or by contacting a committee member. For more information or to make a donation, visit lehighvalleycommunitybenefit.com or contact Rick Nauman at 610.762.5010.

Facebook updates are also available at

facebook.com/lehighvalleycommunitybenefit.

The ride in 2010 included family members and friends of Merhi—including her children’s grandmother, who rode alongside her supporters on a trike. The two-hour run traveled from Northampton to as far north as Palmerton and Kunkletown, attracting viewers from Lehigh, Monroe and Carbon counties.

“It brings out a lot of supporters. It’s nice to see all of the people out supporting our riders,” Wittik adds. “The Lehigh Valley doesn’t see many horrific crimes, where four people are murdered and family members are left with this tragedy. It’s nice that we have people in the Lehigh Valley who can come together to show their support.”

Their first benefit raised nearly $20,000 for Merhi’s children and inspired the organizers to turn the one-time benefit into an annual event. Having coordinated such a massive gathering in a short amount of time, organizers turned their attention to planning for the next year’s benefit. Planning began immediately.

In 2011, the event was renamed the Merhi-Zernhelt Community Benefit to honor the Good Samaritan neighbor who also died. Proceeds from this event were divided between Merhi’s children and Zernhelt’s grandchildren. Their continued success inspired the committee members. Could they continue to maintain this momentum and sense of support as time passed? Could their efforts have an impact on even more lives, helping local families outside of the Northampton murders?

“Every day, something bad happens to another family in the Lehigh Valley,” Nauman adds. “We wanted to help out as many people who are affected by tragedy as possible.”

A community rallies

After two years of successfully raising funds for the Merhi and Zernhelt families, the organization felt it was time to expand their efforts and bring awareness to other local families in need. The benefit was renamed the Lehigh Valley Community Benefit to raise funds benefiting local families struck by a recent tragedy. They also pledged to continue support for those closest to the Northampton murder in 2010.

“We will still be donating to the two families, but we also want to broaden our base to help other families who have undergone tragic incidents,” Wittik says.

Unfortunately, our area has been touched by several recent tragic incidents. In addition to supporting the Merhi and Zernhelt families, this year’s benefit will raise funds for the family of Robert Lasso, a Freemansburg police officer who was shot and killed while responding to a disturbance in August 2011. He left behind a wife and two young children.

“Tragedy affects someone every day, and we need to take care of our own.”

As of press time, the benefit’s coordinators had yet to commit to additional causes, but were actively seeking other families and organizations in need. They will finalize their recipients as the event date draws near.

As the group expands its reach and prepares to help additional families, they are setting their goals high—and promising an entertaining day for all who attend. They have been preparing for this year’s event for months and hope the third annual event is their best yet, having gathered approximately 1,000 people for their cause in 2010 and 2011. In 2011, more than 300 bikers assembled for the 60-mile ride. Countless others have gathered to show their support and take advantage of the day’s entertainment. The hope is that this year will draw even more riders and supporters.

“Within the next few years, this event will be the biggest in the Lehigh Valley,” Wittik says.

Both encouraged local residents to come out to support the Lasso, Merhi and Zernhelt families, noting that our tight-knit community is one of the best virtues of the Lehigh Valley.

“Tragedy affects someone every day, and we need to take care of our own,” Nauman says. “The Lehigh Valley is a small community, and somewhere down the line you may know somebody who needs help. Your donation may be coming right back to you or someone you know in the next year.”

This year’s benefit will be an all-day event held on Saturday, June 16th starting with motorcycle registration at 10 a.m. The non-stop bike ride will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Coordinators have scheduled five bands to perform during the event, including the Lou Franco Project and Social Call, which will last until 9 p.m. Throughout the day, there will be door prizes, basket raffles and an expanded kid’s play area. Children will have access to arts and crafts, face painting, games and a playground.

“We encourage everyone to bring their families,” he adds. “It’s nice to come out and show your support for the community.”

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