Mercer Island resident Matt Cassarino and his two Seattle friends thought it would be good to raise money for the American Lung Association of Washington by getting sponsors for an Association-endorsed climb of Mount Rainier they’ll attempt on July 7 and 8.

They faced a problem, though: The three — Cassarino, Bonnie Castle and Rachel Blake — are friends. They know the same people — as in the people they wanted to ask for donations.

So the trio came up with creative ways to try to raise the $3,500 each said they would, such as playing bongos and dancing for donations at the University of Washington Street Fair and holding a garage sale at which they took in $1,100. Not just any garage sale, however: They got a number of items by posting at an online site a request for donations of goods. About 15 people responded. Cassarino, Castle, 25, and Blake, 27, then went to their homes and picked up the stuff.

The trio had raised about $3,500 total when they came up with another idea.

They thought, “Let’s do something big,” said Cassarino. “So we decided why not just throw a concert?”

Of course, none of them had ever held a concert before. But that didn’t stop them.

The Concert for Clean Air is today at Studio 7, 110 S. Horton St., Seattle. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and proceeds from the tickets, which are $12 each at the door, go toward the trio’s fundraising goals.

The performers are “The Cloves,” a modern pop group which has been featured on 103.7 FM; electro-acoustic guitarist Danny Godinez; and “The BGP,” an Indie rock group. The event is smoke-free.

Here’s how the concert came about: Cassarino knew Brandon Ghorley, the lead singer with “The BGP.” He talked to Ghorley, and “he said `sure we’re all over it,”’ said Cassarino, 29.

Then Ghorley put Cassarino in touch with “The Cloves” who were equally enthusiastic.

Cassarino didn’t know Godinez, who he said has a following locally, but he went to one of his shows and asked him anyway.

“Danny’s like `sure we’d love to help out,”’ said Cassarino.

Cassarino is having fun at this fundraising thing. Prior to his current efforts, he had brought in only “$200 or so” for charity.

He is climbing Mount Rainier in memory of his grandfather, Martin Woods, who died of emphysema in 2002.

“It was so sad,” said Cassarino. “He couldn’t even walk around the house because he was so exhausted.”

The trio is hoping a lot of people turn out for the concert.

“We just want to pack the place,” said Cassarino.

The three are buying the performers dinner as a thank you.

Of course, if you want to donate money to offset the cost of feeding them, Cassarino , Castle and Blake welcome it. After all, it all goes to a good cause, Cassarino said.

To donate: Send checks or money orders to the American Lung Association of Washington, 2625 Third Ave., Seattle, Wash. 98121. Cassarino said to note that the money is for the trios’ fund-raising goals.

Got something you want in Around the Island? Call Lynn Porter at 232-1215 or e-mail her at lynn.porter@mi-reporter.com.