Nick Roberti, owner of the Ukulele Institute of Jim Thorpe, has offered the $385 in proceeds from the recent "Groovy Uke" concert to the Carbon County Environmental Education Center in Jim Thorpe.

The concert, held a week ago at the Lehighton Band Hall, showcased the talents of students at the institute."We're planning to hold four or five shows this year," he said. "This year's concert focused on the 'hippie' theme so we thought that a concert held near Earth Day fit the theme perfectly. That is why we decided to give the proceeds to the Environmental Center."Susan Gallagher, chief naturalist, said that the concert also served to expose people to the environmental center.Roberti said he became obsessed with the ukulele immediately after hearing the sounds of the instrument."I've been around music for a long time," said Roberti. "I always wanted to open a learning center and it has finally become a reality."Roberti is also accomplished on several other instruments, including guitar, piano and has been a member of bands.