Giving Back to the Community - Through Music

Everyone seems to get requests from charitable organizations. They come from all places including the postal mail, email, television, radio, billboards, on the street corner and at church. It's up to each individual which organization they will make a donation to based on personal experiences, the reputation of the group and how they believe the donation will best help the causes they choose to support.

For musicians, charitable events can be a great means to generate much needed exposure while helping these worthy causes. Everyone wins at a benefit concert. Music attracts crowds and crowds can increase the flow of funds.

In some cases, the benefit may just be a way to introduce a new or existing charitable group and their programs. New bands sometimes struggle to get their name and their music out into the public spotlight. By joining forces with these charitable groups, alot can be accomplished and their is the added sense of doing something good for their neighbors and their community.

The bands may also sell their albums at the event while donating a portion of the proceeds to the charitable cause. There is nothing wrong with this, the bands often have to invest their own money to create these albums.

This is not an uncommon method in Central Florida. Hospitals, local homes and shelters, and regional offices of national groups have all used benefit concerts to increase awareness and donations.

Local smooth jazz artist Lindy Romez has helped the causes of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), American Cancer Society and the Children's Miracle Network among others. Romez described the satisfaction she receives when performing for charities: "Music is a gift in itself. To be able to write, perform and share your music is very special and it feels good when you are doing what you can for your community, a charity or even for your neighbor."

Smooth Jazz guitarist Joyce Cooling was recently in town to help support and promote the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Greater Orlando (NAMIGO)and the NAMIGO Walk in Maitland.

Running With Scissors, a popular local classic rock band consisting of members of the medical field and other professionals, enjoys performing at charitable events and supporting causes such as the Winter Park Community Center. "Music is truly a way to make people smile," Lori McMahon, one of the lead singers explained. "So bring the music together with people in the community and you can create a great atmosphere for GIVING to the cause you are fighting for."

WLOQ Smooth Jazz Radio and MetroPCS are sponsoring Smooth Jazz with a Latin Twist in Winter Springs on June 7 with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Greater Orlando Food Outreach. The Caribbean Jazz Project featuring Dave Samuels and Dave Valentin, Marc Antoine & Ed Calle, Humberto Ramirez with Akangana and Cristian Valenzuela are all scheduled to perform.
The Sadie Holmes Help Services, Inc., an Altamonte Springs organization that distributes food, furniture and clothing to needy families, and also operates a
homeless shelter, is organizing a "multi-cultural" benefit concert to increase awareness of the service and help generate operating funds.

Other local non-profit organizations are seeking new and creative ways to increase exposure and raise money for special projects. The Pathways Drop-In Center, Inc., serving the mentally ill, needs to renovate and expand their building to accommodate their growing needs. The Russell Home for Atypical Children is in need of plumbing and roofing repairs while operating expenses continue to rise.

The individual charities each have their own special needs, while one common factor, operating budgets, is shared by all of them.

Several charitable events can be found in Central Florida throughout the year. It's a good way to spend an evening and know you are supporting causes that help others that are in need.