Thank You So Much! This Fundraiser has wrapped -- but if you still want to donate to CRIS, please do so, right here:
https://crisohio.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/crisohio/donation.jsp?campaign=11
If you're wondering what it was / is all about, read on!
Again, thank you.
Neal
FROM THE ORIGINAL LAUNCH
Want to join us in making a difference?
We're raising money to benefit Community Refugee & Immigration Services (CRIS), which helps legal immigrants – often the victims of war, persecution, conflict and violence – find help and support in Central Ohio.
Here's the scoop:
Over 40 area local stars * and musicians have joined in song to create a “We are the World” type ballad and video to help refugees and immigrants from Ukraine, Afghanistan, and all over the world find a little help in Central Ohio.
From long-time local veterans like Shaun “Dammit” Booker, Happy Chichester, Donna Mogavero, and John Schwab (of McGuffy Lane fame) …
To newer sensations like Joey Hebdo and Trey Pearson …
To the youngest of all, singing with the Clintonville Community Children’s Choir (C4) …
We all have a common goal – to help our fellow human beings through song.
The single will soon be available on iTunes, etc. And the sales $$$ will go to CRIS ... but, sometimes it's hard to get people to buy a single ... So, we're trying out as many ways as we can to raise money for this worthy cause -- Including this GoFundMe!
(NOTE: Please, PLEASE, feel free to go to https://www.crisohio.org/
and DIRECTLY give money to CRIS, instead of via this fundraiser.)
The goal is to raise awareness and funds for CRIS throughout November, the Thanksgiving Season ... and beyond.
“Out of the blue, Neal reached out and asked us if he could create a song and video to benefit CRIS,” said Tyler Reeve, Director of Development and Engagement for CRIS. “Frankly, it was a bit odd! We’ve never had this type of donation before, but we figured ‘Well, why not?’”
“I sometimes get so overwhelmed and saddened by the news of the world,” said Neal Havener, the songwriter and co-producer. “But I realized that doing something, ANYTHING, to put out some good vibes, and to hopefully raise some money for a good cause – Well, that sure beats doing nothing.”
“When I reached out for help with the project, the response was amazing,” Havener said. “Our local musician’s community is both ridiculously talented and incredibly generous.”
To Harold “Happy” Chichester, it’s a simple equation. “If we can help each other, let’s help each other,” Chichester said. “You might need some help yourself sometime.”
The video was created by Stephen Webster, and Tom Boyer recorded and mixed the audio.
( These guys are both incredibly skilled at their craft AND are astonishingly beautiful human beings.)
For more about CRIS, visit www.CRISohio.org
*For more about the video, including the long list of generous, talented musicians, please check out the credits on YouTube.
guidestar.org/profile/31-1674893
charitynavigator.org/ein/311674893