Karaoke fundraiser benefits Katrina-damaged churches
Landscape Photo
They came to support the mission. They came to share stories on the work they have done. And they came to sing.
About 100 people, ranging in age from 5 to 65, and consisting mostly of members of the Nassau Presbyterian Church, gathered Sunday for a fundraiser to support the church's rebuilding effort in Biloxi, Miss. ' an area ravaged by Hurricane Katrina.
Gretchen Sword, a resident of Princeton and member of Nassau Presbyterian, organized the event she called "Karaoke for Katrina," which is just one of many she and the church are involved with to help rebuild the Gulf Coast.
"The initiative started because we wanted to do these two projects for these two churches," Ms. Sword said. "The project is for two churches we partnered with on the Gulf Coast. The idea is to raise $15,000 for each church to help them rebuild. So the karaoke night was just one part of this larger initiative."
Ms. Sword arranged for refreshments, sent out invitations and scheduled DJ Rockin' Ron of Bridge Music Co. to raise money for the relief effort.
Attendees could choose from thousands of songs in Rockin' Ron's catalogue, including "Macho Man" by the Village People, "Reach Out" by Burt Bacharach, "Circle of Life" by Elton John and many, many more.
As the people sang, pictures of the devastated landscape of Biloxi flashed above them on a projection screen, keeping the purpose of the evening in perspective. Copies of some of the pictures can be purchased through the church.
"The photos were taken because we thought there would be people interested in seeing the real story on the Gulf Coast. The photo exhibit will hang in the conference room at Nassau Presbyterian through August," Ms. Sword said.
All proceeds benefit Two Projects for Two Churches, she added. The two churches are First Presbyterian Church of Ocean Springs, and Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church of D'Iberville.
Ms. Sword, who returned May 9 from a weeklong trip to assist in the rebuilding of Biloxi, said the church has organized seven trips to the area since October and plans two more this summer.
The Rev. Dave Davis of Nassau Presbyterian, who attended Karaoke for Katrina, said of Ms. Sword's efforts, "I think Gretchen has it right. This evening is a more informal way to get together and have a fundraiser."
The Rev. Davis auctioned his singing services to the highest bidder. At the end of the night, because of a $250 donation, he sang "I Feel Pretty" from the musical "West Side Story."
Princeton resident Zachary Gilmore, who has been a part of the church's mission trips to help rebuild Biloxi, noted that he came to Karaoke for Katrina with his family to give support.
"It's a good cause," he said. "I'm glad we could all make it out."
To kick off the evening, Ms. Sword sang the first song, "Bring It On Home To Me" by Sam Cooke.
She sang, "Bring your sweet loving, bring it on home to me."
Many others followed her singing lead, including a group of five girls from the church's Youth Group who sang, "Ice, Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice.
But the evening was not all fun and games.
Holly Hardaway, as she was writing a donation check to give toward the relief effort, said, "I can't emphasize enough how much help the people down there on the Gulf Coast are going to need for years and years to come. We can't give up."
Sunday's effort raised about $1,700.
|
