NYC’s White Rabbits will play Birdy’s for the latest installment of Rock for Riley’s showcase series, with all profits from the show going towards construction of a new wing at the Riley Hospital for Children. The not-for-profit, created four years ago by IU Medical School students, has raised over $450,000 for Riley through an annual concert that most recently featured My Morning Jacket (this year’s band should be announced in October).

Meanwhile, in March 2007, Rock for Riley kicked off its showcase series, a smaller-scale, year-round project designed to promote up-and-coming bands, increase the charity’s visibility and raise a little money on the side.

Neko Case, Josh Rouse and The Whigs have played, among others, and the series has raised over $5,000. The fund-raising efforts will help pay for a 10-story expansion at Riley to improve critical care and operating rooms.

While sponsors for the annual concert donate the most, the showcase makes it possible for younger club-goers to directly contribute to Riley, and it gives bands the opportunity to play for a good cause.

“It’s always cool to play music and have it be for more than making money for the promoters and bands and getting people drunk,” says White Rabbits’ keyboardist, Stephen Patterson. This summer, the Columbia, Mo.-born Rabbits released their debut, Fort Nightly, a keyboard and dual-drummer-driven collection of catchy Latin-tinged, melodic and dance-friendly rock tunes with lively, prominent vocals by three members, often in harmony. Bloomington’s indie-folk sextet 806 Main St. will open.

Asked how med students find the time to book shows, court sponsors and go to class, co-founder Greg Berman, a resident in anesthesia at downtown Indy’s Methodist Hospital, replies, “When you’re doing this type of philanthropic work, it doesn’t really feel like work, and it’s a pretty good break from studying.”

Berman will move to Denver, Colo., in June 2008 to complete his residency, but he’s confident Rock for Riley is in good hands. “We’ve got all new volunteers,” he says. “It remains a fully medical-student-run organization; we’ve got everything in place to have the Medical School’s largest philanthropy event continue for a long time.”