Music For Mankind®

Thank You and Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T03:49:00.001-05:00

What A Year!

A year ago at this time I was in rehearsals for Mozart's The Magic Flute. I had no idea at that time that this year would turn out the way it did. And now it's drawing to a close. Looking back, it's still hard to believe that all of this has happened in just one year.

I owe a lot of thanks to a lot of folks for making this possible.

Thank you Nan Nall and Lise Messier of Opera Theatre of Weston, my vocal coaches and Producers of "The Magic Flute; Paul Opel, Kent Baker and Gary Schmidt, my pianists - 32 performances of Give My Regards To Broadway since we started, in Vermont, New York, Massachussets, and New Hampshire. Thank you to all our gracious hosts for having us.

Rip Jackson, Mitch Rosengarten and Diane Chart of Grace Congregational Church in Rutland for the opportunity you gave me to perform in Miss Saigon; and all the cast and crew. What an amazing and emotional experience that was.

Thank you Katie Gartner and Manchester Music Festival for the opportunity to sing with you this summer. Suprises are such fun!

Bernadette Robins and all the folks of Dancing With The Rutland Stars, and especially my dance partner, Nicole Fabian; thank you for giving me the opportunity to dance! What a joyful time we all had.

Thank you Kristi Segura, Jim Raposa, Ashley Hensel-Browning, and Erica Schmidt for all the dance lessons. What a joy to be dancing again.

My sincere thanks to The Vermont LakeMonsters, Tri-City ValleyCats, Pittsfield Colonials, Lowell Spinners, and University of Vermont Catamounts for the opportunity to sing The Star Spangled Banner. I am deeply honored.

My sincere thanks to my Board of Directors for believing in me and believing in my vision. I simply could not do this without you.

Jayne West, I cannot thank you enough for your incredible work on the Music For Mankind® website, your help with all of these emails, your friendship and support. You are a gem!

My deepest gratitude, however, goes to those of you, friends, family, and folks I've never met, who have so generously contributed to this cause.

I still remember standing in that stone hut in the mountains of northwestern Nicaragua in 2008, handing simple bowls of food to children who walk eight miles every day up and down mountainous, dirt roads just to go to school and receive what, for many of them is the only food they will eat all day; that simple look of gratitude in their eyes will stay with me all of my life. It brought tears to my eyes. It's because of you who contribute that make this possible to continue yet one more day. I so wish you could stand in that hut with me and see that look.

I feel as though this year has been a big stepping stone. I'm not completely sure where it's going. I have some glimpses. We'll see. But it has been absolutely amazing.

Thank you, with all of my heart, for all that each of you have done with me this year. Here's to 2012! May it bring happiness, peace and prosperity to all of you.

Best and warmest wishes to all,

Letter From The President

2011-12-27T00:54:00.001-05:00

Five years ago in March 2007, after six months of planning and hard work, my dream of Music For Mankind® became a reality when we performed our first Music For Mankind® concert at the Riley Center For The Arts at Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester, Vermont. Since that day we have fed nearly 40,000 people and counting.

I didn't do this by myself. It has taken the care and efforts of many people to get us where we are today.

Two years ago I started the Music For Mankind® Annual Fund Drive to help us in our efforts; through concerts, lectures, documentary presentations, and food drives; to help those who struggle every day to survive, and my heart is deeply touched with gratitude every time we receive a donation.

Music For Mankind® continues to grow. Your help is needed at this time to help us in that growth. Materials and supplies are needed for our new programs that we will be launching in 2012. These programs can put us on a new and bigger "stage" with the ability to help many more people, here at home, and around the world.

I'm personally reaching out to you at this time to ask you to please give, even a little. In our Declaration of Hope Sponsorships page you can learn about giving a one-time donation, or sign up for our new monthly subscription. There are several levels of giving, and any level in which you can give will help tremendously. Please take a moment to visit and give. Every little bit really does help.

Thank you for your time, consideration and support.

Sincerely,

Kelly Moore
President/CEO
Music For Mankind, Inc.

Music For Mankind Sponsorships

2011-12-12T18:01:00.001-05:00

You can tell these children that I met in Nicaragua in 2008 suffer from severe chronic malnutrition. Every day 25,000 people die from hunger or malnutrition; 18,000 of them are children. Think about that a moment. Yet there are enough resources on this planet to feed 10 billion people. This is a problem with a solution.

At Music For Mankind® we are doing all we can to help. So far the contributions from our concerts and other efforts have fed tens of thousands of people, these two included! And we are now partnering with Feeding America, the national food bank.

Please join us in helping others with a one-time gift or monthly Sponsorship Subscription to our Annual Fund so we may continue to move forward with our concert series, lecture series, documentaries and other fund raising initiatives. It's easy to do. Visit our Sponsorship page.

Your contribution can add immensely to fueling our work and helping those who struggle every day just to survive.

We'd like to thank you for your gift with a Music For Mankind® bumper sticker. And on our website you can learn about the the other available benefits, too.

When I left Nicaragua, a part of my heart stayed behind. People need our help all over the world.

As I like to say, " If everyone in the village brings just one brick, together we can build a foundation." Please help by sending in your generous gift today!

Thank you for your continued support!

In gratitude,

Kelly Moore

President/CEO

Music For Mankind, Inc.

The Envelope, Please!

2011-10-30T21:49:00.005-04:00

And The Winner Is...

Several people have asked me about my experience in NYC at the audition for "America's Got Talent", and so I finally am able to take a moment and fill you in on the entire weekend. My thanks to all who have asked. It's taken me this long to get to it with my usual busy schedule and battling a nasty cold on top of that (a show of hands...who else got that cold? Blech!).

For me the audition was just the second part of an amazing weekend of performing, unlike any experience I've ever had. So let me start at the beginning.

On the morning of Saturday October 8, six couples met at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland, Vermont, a beautifully restored opera house from the ninteenth century, for the dress rehearsal of "Dancing With The Rutland Stars". If you have read my previous newsletters or posts to this blog, you already know that we were dancing to raise money to help Kids On The Move Pediatric Rehabilitation Program, the only one of it's kind in the area.

This was the final rehearsal for all of us after three months of rehearsals, each couple rehearsing a different dance at different studios around Rutland. A lot of time, care and effort go into a production of this size, and all of us were excited about the upcoming event that night.

My dance partner was Nicole Fabian, Assistant Vice President and Financial Services Manager of People's United Bank in Rutland, Vermont. We met each other at the "Meet With The Rutland Stars" meeting on August 2, held at the Rutland Country Club. From that day on we became great friends and thoroughly enjoyed dancing with each other every time we rehearsed. For us, the performance on October 8 was a culmination of an effort from our hearts. You can watch the video of our performance.

All six couples cheered each other's performances both morning and evening, and when the winners were announced that night, the real winners were indeed, the children. We raised $20,000 that night! A stunning success! A theatre full of cheering, clapping, stomping fans of local "celebrities" and their instructors sent us into the night with a feeling of fulfillment and friendship unlike any other.

Then the next morning I hopped on my motorcycle (Kawasaki Vulcan 750) and rode to New York City for my audition for "America's Got Talent". The temperature started in the mid-40s but by the time I arrived in New York it was in the 80s. A wonderful ride, and quite the adventure for me. I'm not a big fan of driving in NY (I'm not alone on that, I'm sure!) but I had just spent two weeks riding the streets of Montreal, and felt well-prepared. I also didn't have to go very far into the city.

Riding in the Lincoln Tunnel was exciting. Once through to the other side I was able to quickly find parking within a couple of blocks of the Javits Center where the auditions had been going on since the day before. I arrived about 1:00 PM, made it through registration very quickly and entered the first "Holding Room", as they called it, with a wildly estimated 300 to 500 people patiently sitting and waiting.

I found a seat and joined the wait. Nearby was a group of girl singers, not to audition as one group, but apparently friends, possbily on-the-spot, and they took turns swapping songs, and entertaining us all. Quite good "pop" voices and enjoyable songs. They drew several rounds of applause.

After awhile a producer and camera crew showed up and started arranging vignettes for later use in the show. Keep in mind, these auditions are for the 2012 show. AGT holds auditions all over the country until late February, possibly later if they need to add more. So these vignettes won't be seen until then. Nor will any of the performers who make it to the next round. Of course I'm hoping that I'm one.

Some of the more interesting scenes they shot:

A duo of older men with very long, graying hair, wearing motorcycle outfits and helmets in red, white and blue. Each carried a guitar; one a plastic, air-filled, pretend electric guitar, and the other a real, but cheap (I hope) acoustic guitar. They would proceed to beat each other over the heads with their guitars. I probably shouldn't give away performances, but that one was astonishing!

There was a very young couple who brilliantly danced a high-speed samba; and another man with very long hair under his cowboy hat, wearing a sport jacket, jeans and cowboy boots, and sang with a rich, deep and beautiful baritone voice. A real crowd pleaser. Another eye-catcher, especially for me fresh from my own dance performance, was a young couple in their twenties who beautifully and lyrically danced a cha-cha-cha. I really enjoyed them and got to speak with them later.

Finally, after waiting for about six hours, my number was called as part of a group of one hundred to move to the next Holding Room. There were "only" about 200 people in that room. We waited about an hour there, then a group of about twenty of us were called into the hallway. I could feel it was getting close, or at least closer.

Some confusion with where we were supposed to be had us going up and down the hallway, standing against the wall, splitting into two groups, back down the hallway, and finally sitting down for another ten to twenty minutes.

At last our group went into the audition room together and lined up against the wall facing the "judge". Meg was very nice, polite, professional and courteous to us all, and humorous, as well. She, like all of us, had been at this all day long, and still had her energy, focus and enthusiasm. A credit to her abilities and character.

Each of us sang in turn for our 90 seconds. My snippet of "Come To Me, Bend To Me" from the musical "Brigadoon" was acutally only 80 seconds (I timed it long before to make sure), which, though I could feel the cold starting to tickle in my throat ("No, not NOW!"), I sang it as well as I ever do, with the same enthusiasm and connection as always.

We then left the room and waited a few minutes to see if any of us were to be called back. One young man was, and the rest of us were free to go home. Show's over!

I had arranged to stay with my niece in New Jersey just 15 minutes away, and was really glad I had made those arrangements. At this point it was after 8:00 PM. It had been a 14 hour day for me at that point. I was tired, and that cold was making it's presence felt more each minute.

The next day I rode home, again in beautiful 70 degree weather and wonderful Autumn colors.

I enjoyed the whole experience. It was a bit dull during seven-plus hours of waiting, but I worked in film and TV a long time ago and am very used to "hurry up and wait". I've gotten good at that, when need be. I should have brought a book or mp3 player for some of that down-time. I think it would have helped.

At any rate, calls to those who go to the next round won't start until January, and the word is that if I haven't heard from them by the end of April, I didn't make it. So we'll see. As I've said before, with that long of a wait, I'm not holding my breath.

Would I do it again? Maybe. It depends on a variety of circumstances. I very much appreciate that I was personally invited. These are "open" auditions and anyone can do so, but I felt honored that they had personally emailed me and requested that I take the time to audition. This came about because of a video that I had sent them during the summer.

I did learn a lot about how to prepare for that type of audition. With the very long wait time, and the particular method of audition, it is different than other auditions I've done.

I returned home and so an incredible weekend came to a close. A weekend not just filled with music, dance and performing, but something much deeper about caring. I'll not ever forget this one.

This post is quite long. If you made it this far, congratulations, and thank you very much for your support and enthusiasm.

Best and warmest regards to all,

America's Got Talent!

2011-10-06T14:55:00.002-04:00

Yes, that's right! On Tuesday I received an invitation from America's Got Talent to audition for them in New York City! Suffice to say, I am really excited. I've been thinking about this for well over a year and sent them a video this past summer. They like me! :)

So off to the Big Apple I go. The weather is going to be fantastic; 80 plus degrees F (26 degrees C for my international friends reading this!) and I'm going to ride my motorcycle down there. Interestingly I took the same route last Spring when I went to NJ to visit relatives. So that was a great dry run. Well, it wasn't all that dry.

I digress.

This is the first-round of the 2012 competition. Get our wristbands and competitor number, stand around for hours, get our photos taken. TV taping crews interviewing us, munching snacks, drinking Smartwater, and generally enjoying the entire experience. Nervous? Nah! I love to perform. Give me a stage and I'm ready to go. And with all that time, and probably hundreds of others, at least, with the same dream, I get to meet a lot of interesting people and make a lot of new friends. What's not to love?!

Then, when the big moment comes, don't blink, because it really is just a moment. A 90-second a cappela audition. No frills. No audience. Just me and some judges. I love what I do, and I love this opportunity to show that to these folks. While it will pass in the blink of an eye, I'll drink it all in. It's my chance. Win or lose.

And if I get to go to the second round, then...stage, lights, cameras, celebrity judges, and audience. I've seen a little bit of the show on TV and YouTube. These folks know how to build a set! And light it! If I get there, what fun this will be.

On the Audition Info they send they ask me to tell a little bit about me. Music For Mankind is so important to me, and as many of you know, I usually can't stop talking about it. Probably ad naseum. Sorry! But I've been there talking with little children with the hungriest look in their eyes you have ever, or possibly never seen. It's heart-breaking. Some day I'll tell you the story of the tears I shed when I got home.

But I digress.

So I do hope, for the sake of the possibility of bringing Music For Mankind to a bigger stage in order to help in a bigger way, that I get to go at least to round two.

This is a really exciting moment for me, in what has been an incredible year, and there's still a couple of months to go. What's next? :o

This weekend is packed. Friday dance rehearsal for Dancing With The Rutland Stars, Saturday dance dress rehearsal, Saturday night dance performance, then Sunday jump on the bike and go sing in the the one-and-only New York City! Wow.

Wish me luck!

Dancing With The Rutland Stars

2011-09-20T14:38:00.001-04:00

Kelly Moore Will Be Dancing For Charity

"Dancing With The Rutland Stars" benefit for Kids On The Move Rehabilitaion Program

On October 8, 2011 at 7:00 PM, my dance partner Nicole Fabian, Manager of People's Bank in Rutland, Vermont and I will join five other couples at the beautiful and historic Paramount Theatre in Rutland, Vermont to help raise funds for Kids On The Move.

Nicole is a wonderful dancer, and she and I are having so much fun preparing for this competition, which is styled after the well-known "Dancing With The Stars".

This competition is being presented by Friends of Kids on the Move and Rutland Health Foundation, and they are doing a great job.

Dancing With The Rutland Stars pairs professional dancers with local celebrities, and there will be several trophies and awards given out. Everyone wins, but mostly the kids win.

You can read more about this event in our latest newsletter.

One of the awards is the Dancing With The Rutland Stars People's Choice Award. You can vote for me and Nicole here by clicking on the Vote link on the left-hand side of the page. Voting starts soon, and since this event is not broadcast live, voting must be completed by October 8, 2011.

I'm very excited to be a part of this event. While not a Music For Mankind® event, and while it's "out of the box" of my other events, it's such an incredible opportunity to continue helping the children.

Nicole and I will be dancing a "saucy" little merengue number. We're planning on getting a video on the Music For Mankind website.

Please visit the Dancing With The Rutland Stars website and see what's going on. This is already fun, and more on the way.

If you are not able to attend the event but would like to help you can contribute directly to Kids On The Move.

My sincere thanks to all for your continued enthusiasm and support of Music For Mankind®.

La Torreador - The Fun Never Stops

2011-08-20T18:52:00.006-04:00

Recently I was invited to be part of a surprise performance with artists from the Metropolitan Opera's Lindemann's Young Artists Development Program. The concert took place last Thursday evening, August 18, 2011 at the Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester, Vermont. This was the final 2011 summer concert for the Manchester Music Festival, and featured Layla Claire, Soprano; Renée Tatum, Mezzo Soprano; Andrew Bidlak, Tenor; Edward Parks, Baritone; and Caren Levine, Piano.

A delightful and full two-hour concert, the audience was rockin' throughout, thoroughly enjoying the vocal and piano pyrotechnics, sweet melencholy and emotional pieces, and huge dynamic range of music, vocal and instrumental ability of all.

The last piece was "Votre toast, je peux le rendre", the famous "Torreador" from the George Bizet opera "Carmen" featuring Edward Parks, Baritone. He delivered the popular and famous song in rich and full voice. The surprise that we had in store was that, when the song arrived at the choral section, about twenty or so of us jumped up from our seats, the house lights came up, and we sang the chorus in full SATB! The audience was absolutely delighted. Then, as Mr. Parks sang the next segment, all of us choral folks walked through the audience welcoming and sharing such a delightful moment together. As Mr. Parks sang his second chorus section, we "wandered" up to stand in front of the stage and join in on the final chorus and coda.

Of course we were totally thrilled to be singing with artists from "The Met" and applauded them vigorously. And they graciously and enthusiastically applauded our efforts as well. We all of us completely enjoyed the opportunity and fun of singing together. And we rocked the house! What a treat!

It's only mid-August, and already this year I've been in my first opera, Mozart's "The Magic Flute", performed in the powerful and emotionally wrenching musical "Miss Saigon", sang with artists from The Met, been performing my own concert series "Give My Regards To Broadway" all around New England, and have sung our National Anthem at four baseball games. And the fun doesn't stop there.

I will be returning to Burlington, Vermont to sing "The Star Spangled Banner" on Sunday August 28 for the Vermont Lake Monsters, and again on Wednesday August 31 in Lowell, MA for the Lowell Spinners, the Single A minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox! I am thrilled to once again honor our country with this great song.

And each time I perform, whether it's a Music For Mankind® event or not, I hold a thought close to my heart of those less fortunate and hope that somehow my small efforts can help them in their struggles to create their own lives in peace and fulfillment.

Yet what I do can only succeed because of all of you who help me in my continuing efforts. Please know how grateful I am to you for your support.

I hope to see you at a concert, game or other event soon.

Please visit http://www.musicformankind.net/ to see all the events we have listed there.

Miss Saigon

2011-07-12T09:35:00.003-04:00

On July 15 and 16, I will be performing in the Tony Award-winning musical "Miss Saigon", one of the biggest block-busters in Broadway history. The shows will be at the prestigious and beautiful Paramount Theatre in Rutland, Vermont. I play the part of the Assistant Commissar (Viet Cong) and I am also in the ensemble.

In short, the music is stunning. With a twenty-two piece orchestra (over 360 percussion peices, alone) it is extremely complex and demanding for singers and musicians alike.

The story, inspired by a true story and made as a variation of "Madame Butterfly", occurs during the fall of Saigon and after, following the plight of an American GI and Vietnamese bar girl. This is a very powerful and evocative telling from a personal point of view of the Vietnam War and the tragedies during that time.

Cited as one of the most praised musicals, it reveals the raw power of live theatre. This is the first time "Miss Saigon" has been performed in Vermont and is receiving quite a lot of attention from radio (Vermont Public Radio) and newspapers around the state.

Performances are as follows:
Friday July 15 at 7:00 PM
Saturday July 16 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM

Tickets can be purchased at http://www.paramountvt.org/ or call 802/775-0903

The Paramount Theatre is located at 30 Center Street, Rutland, Vermont

Kelly Moore To Sing National Anthem For Vermont Lake Monsters

2011-06-14T16:17:00.000-04:00

It's an incredible honor for me to sing The Star Spangled Banner at the June 24 game between the Vermont Lake Monsters and the Connecticut Tigers at Centennial Field.

We've been going to the games there every year since 1996, back when they were the Vermont Expos. It's a wonderful field and stadium, and to be able to team up with the Lake Monsters to help the World Food Program and Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf is really a treat for me.

I love working with the folks at Vermont Lake Monsters and Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf. And of course many of you are well aware of all the incredible opportunities WFP have provided me. I simply can't say enough good about WFP USA. They're really awesome.

The game is the first Friday game of the season. How's that? you say. Vermont is really north. So the season starts much later. It's called the Short Season League. But the baseball is still grand, and I love to go to the games when I can. And I'm thrilled to be invited to sing their first Friday game.

Game time is 7:05, and Centennial Field is located at 287 Colchester Ave., Burlington, Vermont.

So, while many of you can't get to the game, cheer for the Lake Monsters that day, and I'll keep you posted on the results.

Thanks to all for your continued support of Music For Mankind®

Play Ball!

Kelly Moore and Vermont Lake Monsters Raise Funds For The Hungry

2011-04-04T22:55:00.001-04:00

Music For Mankind® founder to sing National Anthem

The Vermont Lake Monsters, the Single-A Burlington, Vermont Minor League baseball team of Major League Baseball’s the Oakland Athletics, and Music For Mankind® founder Kelly Moore, of Manchester Center, Vermont, are teaming up to raise funds for the United Nations World Food Program and the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf, a Burlington, Vermont based Feeding America food shelf.

Kelly Moore will sing The Star Spangled Banner when the Vermont Lake Monsters take on the Connecticut Tigers at Centennial Field in Burlington on June 24, 2011, and the Vermont Lake Monsters will make a contribution from tickets sold through the Music For Mankind® website on May 24, 2011 for the June 24 game to Music For Mankind®. Music For Mankind® will then contribute those funds directly to World Food Program USA and the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf.

“We are very grateful to Kelly Moore and Music For Mankind for their efforts with the Vermont Lake Monsters to help raise funds for the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf,” said Rob Meehan, Director of CEFS. “This event helps raise awareness and support for hunger relief as we continue to see a growing number of visitors in need of food.”

“Efforts like Music for Mankind are in key in supporting WFP USA’s mission to promote policies, strategies and operations that directly benefit poor and hungry people around the world,” said WFP USA’s Ann Andrews Morris. “Thanks to Kelly, more people will be getting the life saving sustenance they so desperately need.”

“It’s an incredible honor for me to be able to help people who struggle every day just to survive by honoring our country with this great song,” stated Kelly Moore.

“Food is such a basic necessity,” he added. “There are enough resources on this planet to feed over ten billion people, yet every night over a billion go to bed hungry. This is how I can help a little with my talents, to perform my music and give what I can. It doesn’t take much to help.”

“We are so excited that Kelly and Music For Mankind is not only participating in our 31 for 31 program, but that they are so enthusiastic about the success of the program,” Emily McDonald, Vermont Lake Monsters Director of Community Relations and Promotions said. “Kelly has really taken his involvement with this program to the next level.”

“Working with Music For Mankind is very special to us,” she continued. “Teaming up with non-profits is a huge part of who we are and to be able to make a difference state-wide is important to us. Kelly has dedicated himself to such a meaningful cause. It's one that continuously needs attention and anything the Lake Monsters can do to help his effort is very rewarding.”

Centennial Field is located at 287 Colchester Avenue, Burlington, Vermont. Game time is 7:05 PM.

For more information about Music For Mankind® or to purchase tickets to the game, visit www.musicformankind.net or call 802/362-3806.

Help Needed For Japan and Libya

2011-03-29T10:09:00.000-04:00

We've all been reading about the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and then on top of that, the revolution, dare I call it, in Libya, creating massive difficulties for thousands of citizens and immigrants trapped in a civil war. People are struggling just to survive at this point.

I have been receiving emails from World Food Program USA and The Prem Rawat Foundation keeping me up-to-date with the issues on the ground in both countries, and the hard work that both organizations are doing to help. And their efforts are massive.

When I traveled to Nicaragua in 2008 with World Fod Program USA (then called Friends of the World Food Program), I was able to see and experience first-hand what I call the Face of Hunger. And I also saw the Face of Hope because of the incredible work that is being done to aid people in these heart-breaking situations.

Imagine what the boy in the picture is feeling as he receives what is probably the only meal of the day for him.

As simply as I can say it, please help by making a contribution. You can contribute here, and I will forward the funds directly to these organizations, or you can visit their websites and contribute directly to them. But however you do it, please help.

Did you know, as little as $10 will feed 40 people! It doesn't take much to help.

And please take a moment and visit both sites and see for yourself the work they are doing. It's an honor for me to help them in whatever way I can.

World Food Program USA

The Prem Rawat Foundation

Thank you for your continued support.

2011 Is An Exciting Year

2011-02-16T01:17:00.003-05:00

2011 started off with a bang! Right out of the chute, I spent three weeks with the Opera Theatre of Weston rehearsing and performing in Mozart's The Magic Flute. What a wonderful experience that was. I felt like a kid in a candy shop.

First of all...Mozart. Magical, beautiful, heart-warming, stunning music and arrangements, touched my heart so many times, so deeply.

Then, the singers. Oh my, the singers! Where do I start? Pablo Bustos as Tamino. A beautiful, high tenor (Db above High C!), and such tonality, he often reminded me of an oboe. Katy Kaplan as The Queen of the Night, singing fantastically high, fast, demanding passages; vocal fireworks on display, nailed it every time. Such power and flexibility, we cheered backstage each time she finished.

Mark Womack as Papageno is a powerful, rich baritone, and a very funny actor, too. He brought such humanity to the show, a real delight to watch him.

Christopher Besch as Sarastro, a resonant and clear bass; LR Davidson, as Papagena, a bright, shimmering soprano, and an incredible comic who practically stole the show. And Matthew Knickman as Monostatos, is a strong and clear tenor.

I have saved my favorite for last. Meagan Brus, who played Pamina, sings in a clear, honey-rich soprano with incredible emotion. I was startled every time she sang. I felt as though I was hearing her for the first time, every time, and I'd never heard anyone sing with that tonality before. She consistently sang and acted with a maturity that was beyond her years.

I truly felt honored to be a part (Temple Priests Chorus and Slave) of this production. Everyone in the production was a delight to be with and to work with. The conductor, Maestro Karen Keltner of San Diego Opera; our Music Director, Angela Gooch; our Director, Diana Stuggar; the eleven-piece orchestra, all the cast and crew alike, were thoroughly professional and fun to be with. We performed to very appreciative audiences and a great review. Suffice it say, I had a blast!

Shifting gears from that is interesting. I learned a lot as a singer, and now am focused on my own concert series, Give My Regards To Broadway. I'm performing with a new pianist, Kent Baker, of Castelton State College and the Enerjazzbigband. He is a gifted pianist and delightful guy to be with. We start the 2011 series on March 2, and have concerts booked into September. Plenty of open dates, yet, and I would love to fill them.

I am so excited about the incredible response we received last year to this new series, and the excitement continues. There are some very interesting ideas we're working on to book this into new venues and new regions. Anyone with ideas for venues in their area is more than welcome to contact us. You can email me at kelly@musicformankind.net or call me at 802/362-3806. I'd love to hear from you.

Keep an eye on the website event pages for our schedule, and Event News.

Of course I continue to contribute the proceeds of the concerts to the UN World Food Program, and last year was able to start donating some to Feeding America, as well as the local Feeding America foodbank in Vermont. We have fed over 40,000 people now with our contributions from concerts, food drives, merchandise sales and donations.

The support you have given me in this effort is really remarkable. I am deeply honored and grateful for your support, and the incredible things you have said about this effort. There are many moments in my life when your support has helped pull me through the difficult times. Music For Mankind® is alive and breathing, because of all of us working together. Thank you for all you do!

Hope to see you at a concert soon.

Best and warmest regards to all!
Kelly Moore

Opera Fun - The Magic Flute

2010-12-28T21:58:00.000-05:00

12/28/10

We are now in full swing of rehearsals for the Opera Theatre of Westion 2011 production of Mozart's The Magic Flute. Today was the first day of full cast rehearsals, and honestly, to hear these incredible singers with such glorious music, I felt like a kid in a candy store.

After being battered by the Nor'easter snow storm two nights ago, bringing 16" of snow to the region, we started rehearsing in the downstairs of a nearby church for the week. All of us just sitting on chairs facing Musical Director Angela Gooch, the Head of Vocal Studies at Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Boston, MA, as we sang through the opera from the beginning. What a treat!

I've worked with a lot of really good singers in my career, and to sit amongst a roomful of such talent was a very heady experience. And to be a part of the Select Chorus for this production is a delight. My work with my vocal coaches, especially this past year, have brought me to the point where I can be a part of this, and to be able to make a contribution here is an honor. And this is only the beginning of this new journey for me.

I will add some photos in as I can, and post more along the way. Stay tuned...

From Folk Music to Opera

2010-12-06T14:31:00.000-05:00

Music For Mankind® founder Kelly Moore, having successfully created his new concert series, Give My Regards To Broadway, has accepted a role in the Opera Theatre of Weston's January 2011 production of Mozart's The Magic Flute.

Kelly will sing in the Select Chorus and also perform as a Temple "Slave".

Opera Theatre of Weston Co-Producer Lise Messier said about him, "A multi-talented performer, Kelly brings enormous enthusiasm, solid vocal skills, sensitive and honest interpretations, and a big heart to a wide-ranging repertoire. He is a gifted entertainer. His background in theater, dance, and singing are a perfect fit for this production."

"Having grown up in theatre, this is my first performance in opera," said Kelly, "and I'm very excited to be in this one. Mozart's music is so beautiful that it brings tears to your eyes. To start at this level is, for me, an incredible experience."

"And," he added, "working with the OTW producers, directors and everyone involved is great. I'm really enjoying this and looking forward to the performances."

Performances will be as follows:

On Saturday January 8, starting at 3:00 PM, the performance will be held at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland.

On Saturday January 15, a 3:00 performance will be held at the Weston Playhouse, in Weston, Vermont, and then again on Sunday January 16, with the performance starting at 2:00 PM.

There will also be performances for local schools.

Tickets can be purchased at:

Paramount Theatre
Box Office 802.775.0903
http://www.paramountlive.org/

Opera Theatre of Weston
Box Office 802.824.3821
Email: otw@sover.net
http://www.operatheatreofweston.org/

For more information about Opera Theatre of Weston please visit our friends at www.operatheatreofweston.org

Give My Regards Concerts Huge Success!

2010-10-17T14:28:00.006-04:00

Music For Mankind® - Give My Regards To Broadway Concerts A Huge Success

Starting at the end of July, with Rutland pianist Paul Opel, I've been performing the "Give My Regards To Broadway" concerts all over Vermont, in New Hampshire, Massachussets and upper New York State to incrediby touching enthusiasm.

Starting the new series in retirement homes, sharing songs that I grew up with in musical theatre as a teenager, with octogenarians and up who were introduced to these same songs in their adulthood, the bond created singing together is powerful and emotional. You can hear a sample of the concert here.

I'd like to share a couple of personal stories here. Several times, after the concert I've been approached by a concert-goer in tears who has held my hand, thanked me profusely, and told me, "You have no idea the memories you have brought back."

And another, clearly in her mid to late eighties, who told me, "You made me feel young again. Thank you!".

Already this concert series is doing much more than I anticipated. It's so sweet when the audience is singing along on songs that mean so much to them, and to me, as well. And at the end, when we sing "Edelweiss" together, and everyone joins in, even those who hadn't sung previously, and those who smile who hadn't smiled the entire concert, I feel such a gratitude to be able to bring this experience to them and to share it with them.

When I sing "Try To Remember", and in the third verse I get to the line of "Deep in December it's nice to remember the fire of September that made us mellow", sometimes I get choked up myself thinking about what this means to them, and what it means to me now, and what it will mean to me when I'm their age, and I'm touched and honored that what I can do is able to do this much for them.

To perform these concerts, to touch people's hearts, and to be able to contribute to organizations like the UN World Food Program and Feeding America, and help those who struggle every day just to survive, is a double dose of humility for me. I'm very thankful that I've been given this gift of music. It does things in my heart that I can never express, but just to let it out. I go around thinking, "If only people could feel what I'm feeling!", and possibly they are.

I've been showing my documentary, "Nicaragua - On The Ground", as well, and oftentimes am asked, "How can I help?".

We're continuing to book the "Give My Regards To Broadway" concerts, and expanding our reach into tour bus groups, resorts, corporate conventions and other events. Perhaps you have or know a group who would enjoy this music. Please let me know. That's how you can help. You can email me at kelly@musicformankind.net or call me at 802-362-3806.

Thank you so much for your support and enthusiasm.

Kelly

Links:
Nicaragua - On The Ground
Give My Regards To Broadway

Give My Regards - Audio Now Available

2010-08-30T20:29:00.000-04:00

Music For Mankind® - Give My Regards To Broadway

As you know, Music For Mankind® founder Kelly Moore has added a second show to the Music For Mankind® series. Give My Regards To Broadway is a concert of well-known Broadway and variety songs.

Recently Kelly went into the studio to record some of the songs from the show. And now you can listen to a sample here.

Mr. Moore performs Give My Regards To Broadway with an accomplished pianist. The concert running time varies with the needs of the venue, and can fit any format.

Listen to a sample

Give My Regards To Broadway

2010-07-21T17:38:00.001-04:00

Music For Mankind®

Give My Regards To Broadway

Music For Mankind® founder Kelly Moore has added a second show to the Music For Mankind® series. Give My Regards To Broadway is a concert of well-known Broadway tunes and variety songs.

Included in this concert are show-stoppers "Somewhere" from West Side Story, "Younger Than Springtime" from South Pacific, "On The Street Where You Live", from My Fair Lady, "Try To Remember" from the longest-running musical off-Broadway, The Fantasticks, "Come To Me, Bend To Me" from Brigadoon, and of course "Give My Regards To Broadway" from the ever popular George M. And no show is complete without the favorite sing-a-long "Edelweiss" from The Sound of Music.

Mr. Moore performs Give My Regards To Broadway with an accomplished pianist. The concert running time varies with the needs of the venue, and can fit any format.

Audio samples of this show will be available shortly, but audio and video samples of the original Music For Mankind® series are available here by clicking on either Audio or Video under the Multimedia tab.

Music For Mankind® is a benefit concert series, proceeds of which are contributed to the United Nations World Food Program, Feeding America, and other local and national charity organizations for humanitarian relief. See the information video.

Overall goal, while providing entertainment, is to create awareness of, and funds for a global issue that can be resolved.
Kelly's latest CD, "Silently Hoping" climbed to #37 on World Music radio airplay charts in the US, and aired on radio stations in ten countries.
Solo, trio and full ensemble concert formats are available for booking.
View the "Silently Hoping" music video, seen thousands of times on YouTube and many other Internet websites.
Friends of the World Food Program recognized Kelly Moore’s efforts by giving him the title of Community Delegate of the Friends of the World Food Program.
View the trailer of "Nicaragua - On The Ground", the video of the UN World Food Program's efforts in Nicaragua, produced by Kelly Moore featured in the Friends of the World Food Program's September newsletter, "Food For Thought".

See Kelly Moore's Press Kit page here.
Learn about Kelly Moore's Film Presentations here.
Learn about Kelly's Speaking Engagements here.

For more information call 802-362-3806 or email info@musicformankind.net

Riders For The Hungry

2010-07-17T13:22:00.000-04:00

Ride For The Hungry™ A Good Start

Founder Kelly Moore and friends raise money with their motorcycles.

On Sunday, July 11, starting in Bennington, Vermont and riding to Manchester then West Dover, Vermont, Music For Mankind® founder Kelly Moore was joined by Alex de Samsanow and Allison Thorner to raise funds for the United Nations World Food Program and Feeding America.

"It was my first-ever effort at organizing a motorcycle rally," Kelly stated afterwards. " And, while we originally had a couple dozen riders planning to join us, the three of us are the original Music For Mankind® - Ride For The Hungry™ riders. I'm very proud of this effort, and definately plan to do more."

The weather was ideal for the ride. Alex and Kelly started at Ronnie's Cycle in Bennington, riding up Route 7, then over to Route 7A and up to Manchester. Allison joined our intrepid crew there, and the three rode over Route 30, then up and over beautiful Route 100 to West Dover, stopping at the Matterhorn Inn for Polish lunch, cooked and served by the owners Joe and Wanda Kruszewski. A dip in the pool, and the warm sun felt great!

"We raised some money for those much less fortunate than us, and we had a great time, " Kelly said. "Clearly more can be done to make these rides more successful. But this was a really good start. I'm never discouraged when people join together to help in whatever little way we can. Every little bit makes a difference in the lives of those who struggle every day just to survive. I've been there and seen it. I'll never forget it, and I simply won't stop trying to help."

While performing concerts and doing his lecture series showing his documentary "Nicaragua - On The Ground" that he produced last year about his trip as US Delegate for the Friends of the World Food Program to Nicaragua in 2008, Kelly already has two other rides in the planning stages.

"We have opportunities to keep growing in so many areas and in so many ways," he said of his efforts. " The rides are a new part of this, and with everything else, new ideas keep popping up. I'm planning some announcements about these very soon. So keep an eye on the newsletters, the website and the blog. We're just getting started!"

And my sincere thanks to all who help to support our efforts.

2010 Relay For Life

2010-06-28T15:29:00.004-04:00

85 Riders Raise Money For Cancer Society

I recently became a member of the Bennington International Motorcycle Club, and so joined 84 other riders on over 60 motorcycles on Saturday June 26 for a 140 mile ride through southern Vermont to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. This was an incredible and touching event.

Starting at 10:00 in the morning, we rode Rte. 9 to Dover, VT, then Rte. 100 up through Jamaica, South Londonderry, and Londonderry to Weston, where we had a great lunch provided by the Vermont Country Store (thanks!). After lunch we continued on Rte. 100 to Rte. 155 to East Wallingford, then 6 miles of wonderful twisties on Rte. 140 (freshly resurfaced) over to Wallingford, and down Rte. 7 in the rain to Manchester. A short break, then back on to Rte. 7A, again in the rain, down to Bennington. A brief stop to pay our respects to a former member who had passed away, from cancer, then on to Mount Anthony Union High School track, where an all-day event awaited us.

When it was our turn, we were introduced on the PA system, and amid cheers, many heartfelt thanks and the music of Steppenwolf's "Born To Be Wild", we made our way around the track to the main stage area, where Ride Coordinator, Terry Stacy presented a check to the American Cancer Society for over $1,400!

People had been walking laps all day and into the night, to help raise money for this cause, and all around the track were "luminaries", little white bags with a candle in them, to honor those in treatment, those who had recovered, and those who had passed away. Several organizations had tents in the field area and around the track, and as we continued our way around the track, the cheers and thanks only become louder, more fervent, and more touching.

This is an experience I will not ever forget. For me, to understand that what we had done together brought this kind of response, reminded me of my own efforts to help feed the hungry poor. To feel so humbled by other's desparate needs, and their intensely sincere thanks for our efforts touches my heart in a way mere words can probably not ever adequately express.

My sincere thanks to all at the Bennington International Motorcycle Club for your warm welcome and your efforts to help those less fortunate. And my sincere thanks, to the American Cancer Society and all the volunteers at the event for your efforts and your kindness

Guest Post by Senator George McGovern

2010-05-18T17:40:00.000-04:00

Music For Mankind® contributes to the United Nations World Food Program School Feeding Program, which was started by Senator George McGovern. I have had the pleasure of meeting him twice while in Washington.

Recently the Friends of the World Food Program posted the following from him on their blog, and have been kind enough to allow me to share his posting with you here on my blog.

A Humbling Experience in One of Africa's Largest Slums

By Senator George McGovern

Originally posted on Friends of the World Food Program Blog Thursday May 13, 2010

Hunger is something I have fought tirelessly by encouraging a global commitment to school meals and nutrition. I am currently on a 10-day visit to Kenya and Uganda to see United Nations World Food Program (WFP) projects serving the same cause. This visit comes 50 years after President John F. Kennedy appointed me the first director of the U.S. Food for Peace Program.

On Tuesday, I visited the Nairobi slum of Kibera—the largest slum in East and Central Africa—with more than 1 million people. Life is hard and most residents struggle daily to put a meal on the table. Many of the children in Kibera are orphans, having lost their parents to HIV/AIDS.

I want to share with you a touching experience when I met Lilian Adhiambo, a 22-year-old woman who is HIV positive and lives in Kibera. Lilian, through her HIV-infected child, receives WFP food assistance through a program feeding children who are HIV positive and their families.

With Lilian and her child, I saw the important role that nutrition plays in the management of the disease. Lilian said that with the WFP food, she and her child, together with the rest of the family, are able to lead a normal life and that she can even engage in small income-generating activities which, however, don’t always do very well because of the high levels of poverty in the slums.

Amid the squalor of Kibera, Lilian’s house, though mud walled and with a dirt floor, was sparkling clean and her sparse furniture was neatly arranged in her small room. The resilience I saw in her humbled me.

I danced with a 10-year-old lady from Stara Rescue Centre, and listened to poetry and songs from children in the centre, which is both a school and haven for destitute and orphaned children.

The poems and songs were about the nutritious lunch they receive daily in school because of WFP and how it helps them concentrate in class and encourages them to stay in school. At that moment, I was proud of the fact that in 2001, together with my colleague Senator Robert Dole, we pushed for the McGovern-Dole program which supports WFP’s school meals in Kenya.

I firmly believe that school meals are the most important form of assistance that the United States can give in Kenya and other parts of the world. This is because school meals provide both a safety net for hungry children and an incentive to keep them in school so they can learn for a better future.

###

For more information about Music For Mankind® please visit http://www.musicformankind.net/

Music For Mankind® - Ride For The Hungry™

2010-05-15T17:13:00.002-04:00

Music For Mankind founder, Kelly Moore is starting the first of several fundraising motorcycle rallies.

Proceeds to be contributed to the United Nations World Food Program and Feeding America.

July 11, 2010

Registration 9:00 - 10:00 AM at Ronnie's Cycle, Rte. 9, Bennington, VT
Depart 10:30 AM
1st stop in Manchester, VT 11:00 AM (call 802-362-3806 for location)
Anyone who wishes to start the ride here is welcome.
Leave Manchester at 11:30 AM
Lunch at Matterhorn Inn, Rte. 100, Dover, VT
Return after lunch to Ronnie's Cycle
Riders traveling from out of state are welcome to stay at the Matterhorn Inn. Discount prices offered for rally participants. Call 802-464-4676
Click here for the printable poster.
Please email kelly@musicformankind.net if you plan to attend so we can have a count for lunch.
For more information about Music For Mankind® please visit http://www.musicformankind.net/

Music For Mankind, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity non profit organization. All contributions are tax deductible to the full extent the law allows.

Friends of the World Food Program Blog

2010-04-07T18:33:00.000-04:00

Margot Hoerrner, Vice President, Outreach of the Friends of the World Food Program, posted the following blog on their weblog:

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Music for Mankind

Musician Kelly Moore has been an avid supporter of Friends of the World Food Program and an advocate for the world’s hungry poor for several years. In March 2010, Kelly and his band performed in Vermont, and made the concert available via webcast for supporters across the country. Friends of WFP served as one the beneficiaries of the concert. The following are excerpts from an interview I had with Kelly Moore, about his work and commitment to ending global hunger. Read on…

Margot Hoerrner (Vice President of Outreach and Education, Friends of WFP): How did you first hear about the United Nations World Food Program (WFP)?

Kelly Moore: I have been an active supporter of Prem Rawat and his foundation for years, which works to promote peace and support humanitarian causes around the world. In about 2005, there was an article in the Prem Rawat Foundation newsletter, discussing the work of the World Food Program and the issue of global hunger. The Prem Rawat Foundation had supported WFP in their disaster relief efforts with the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and has continued to provide assistance to WFP’s ongoing hunger relief efforts.

MH: What was it about that article, or the issue of global hunger, that made you want to get involved?

KM: 2005 was an important year for me. I had a number of things going on in my life both personally and professionally as a musician which prompted me to start thinking more about impact.

I had been playing both as a solo musician and with a band, performing at venues all over New England, and had started selecting additional venues such as prisons, hospitals, and schools… it was with these audiences that I started to see how grateful people were to have live music come to them.

This made me start thinking about how I could leverage my music to create change around the issues I care about, and have a bigger impact. I decided to start Music for Mankind - a series of benefit concerts through which a portion of the proceeds are contributed to the Friends of the World Food Program and other national, regional, and local charities to support hunger and poverty alleviation strategies.

MH: Tell me about your concert which took place in March in Vermont.

KM: We hadn’t had a local concert in awhile, so we arranged to have an intimate performance at Al Ducci’s - a gourmet food venue in Manchester, Vermont – with simultaneous live webcast, so our fans around the country could join us as well. We decided to use the concert as a fundraising event for both Friends of the World Food Program, and the Manchester Community Food Cupboard, which is a local hunger alleviation organization.

Al Ducci’s donated the space, and the Greater Manchester Arts Council supported the event – and it was a full house! We played for about an hour, and throughout the performance, I spoke about my travels to visit WFP programs on the ground in Nicaragua and Peru. So many people came up to me afterward, expressing thanks for raising awareness about the issue of global hunger, and told me that, through my words and the images that I shared, they felt that they had traveled to the field with me.

At the end of the day, we raised some funds and some awareness, and made a difference in people’s lives.

MH: How would you describe your music?

KM: (laughs) How would I describe my music… Well, it’s acoustic, folk, pop, rock and Celtic all rolled into one. My band – Emerald Dreams – has two vocalists, a violin, flute and piccolo, double bass and guitar.

MH: With all of the issues out there that you could support, why did you choose to support global hunger alleviation?

KM: The bottom line is that people have to eat. Without food, you don’t have life. You don’t have dignity or prosperity. Without food you’re unable to experience peace in the world, or with yourself. If we’re able to first address hunger, so many other challenges will be resolved as well.

---

Margot Hoerrner
Vice President of Outreach and Education
Friends of the World Food Program

Concert A Success!

2010-03-23T17:29:00.000-04:00

Held in Al Ducci's Café, a small, yet very café-ish place with tables covered with red and white checked tablecloths (classic!), we performed to a full house of enthusiastic supporters of both the Manchester Community Food Cupboard and Music For Mankind®. What a treat!

And now the webcast is available online for viewing, and donating! It's an online benefit concert! So sit back with a glass of Italian wine, some spagetti and meatballs...you get the picture...and enjoy. And please remember, every contribution, no matter how small, makes a huge difference to those struggling every day to survive. With all we have here it can be difficult to keep that in focus.

Thank you so much to all for your continuted enthusiasm and support!

Kelly

View the webcast

Last Reminder: Webcast Benefit Concert

2010-03-18T00:14:00.001-04:00

I met these two adorable children in Nicaragua. They look to be about 1 and 3 years old. They are 2 and 4 years old. This is due to severe and chronic malnutrition. That look you see goes right through you. We called it the 100 mile stare. I think these two are really, really hungry. It's heart-breaking. An image I will never forget, and one I remember often when sitting down to a meal.

The webcast concert we are performing is to help children and others who just need a hand up. The concert will be available starting this Saturday March 20 at http://www.musicformankind.net/ on the Webcast page. You can find it in the pulldown menu from the Multimedia tab. Donations given online will go to help the incredible efforts of the UN World Food Program, Feeding America, and The Prem Rawat Foundation.

If any of you are having a group viewing, please let me know by emailing me at kelly@musicformankind.net . I'd like to personally and publicly thank you for your support.

Thanks so much for your enthusiasm and support. It means so much in this effort to help.
Kelly

Webcast Benefit Concert

2010-03-11T11:57:00.008-05:00

We're just about a week away from the webcast concert. I'm really excited to start using technology this way. Online donations go to UN World Food Program's School Feeding Program and other humanitarian orgs. Check it out at http://www.musicformankind.net/ on the new Webcast page under the Multimedia tab.

Thanks. See you there!
Kelly

Save The Date for the Webcast Concert!

2010-03-06T11:28:00.003-05:00

Please join us in helping those who struggle every day to survive!

I'll be performing a benefit concert, sort of a double header. The donations at the concert will go to the Manchester Community Food Cupboard. Online donations will go to the UN World Food Program's School Feeding Program, Feeding America (the national foodbank, formerly Second Harvest), and The Prem Rawat Foundation.

The webcast will be available Saturday March 20, 2010 at 6:30 PM. The concert will be performed in Manchester, VT. Hillary Smith and Anne D'Olivo,the vocalists from my ensembl Emerald Dreams will be performing with me. They are delightful singers and I really enjoy performing with them.

This is the first time we've done something like this, and I'm very excited and hopeful for a great outcome. We really need you to be a part of this, and to donate.

I've been in the field, and I've experienced it first-hand. Both the need and the hope. If my little efforts can help bring more people together as a community to help our global community, then we've succeeded. So please join us, enjoy the concert, and together let's make a difference.

Thanks!
Kelly Moore

Live Webcast Concert

2010-02-26T13:44:00.003-05:00

I am pleased to announce my first concert webcast! This event will take place on Saturday March 20, 2010 at 6:30 PM at www.musicformankind.net. From the Media tab, go to the Webcast page.

Contributions for the event will be donated as follows:
On-line contributions:
The UN World Food Program School Feeding Program
Feeding America (national food bank, formerly Second Harvest)
The Prem Rawat Foundation

Contributions given at the live concert:
The Manchester Community Food Cupboard

Please join the fun, and also help those who struggle every day simply to survive.

Thank you.
Kelly Moore
Music For Mankind, Inc.

We Can Help

2010-01-19T00:02:00.001-05:00

Dear Supporters of Music for Mankind,

Clearly the attention of the world is now focused on the tragic events unfolding in Haiti, as is ours. In spite of this, we humbly ask that if you have not yet voted in the Berkshire Bank Foundation Giveaway, please do so before the deadline of January 31, 2010. No donation is required, only a simple vote. Music For Mankind, Inc. could receive a $5,000 grant which will dramatically help us in our efforts to continue helping others.

Vote here

You will need our address which is P.O. Box 608, Manchester Center, VT 05255

Music for Mankind will be able to contribute a significant portion of this grant to the crisis in Haiti. We are also at an important time in our growth where we will be able to move forward to help even more with other fund raising projects if we receive this grant. Please help us continue our vision with your vote. And please encourage others you know to vote for us, as well. US residents only, 18 years or older, may vote.

Thank you.

Kelly Moore
President/CEO
Music For Mankind, Inc.

Berkshire Bank Foundation Giveaway

2010-01-05T22:28:00.003-05:00

Want a simple and easy way to help Music for Mankind win a $5,000 grant? Please read more and pass along to anyone you think may be interested. Thank you for your attention and thank you, in advance, for your very important vote.

The Berkshire Bank Foundation (read bio below) will award four $5,000.00 grants to non-profit organizations based ONLY in the following regions:

*Berkshire County, MA
*Pioneer Valley, MA
*Eastern NY
*Southern VT

Music for Mankind is based in the region of Southern Vermont, therefore eligible.

The grants will be awarded based on the highest number of votes received between now and January 31, 2010, so please vote soon!

To participate, you must be a lawful permanent resident of the United States, 18 years of age or older. One vote per person.

To register and vote: Click here and follow the instructions. You will need MFM’s address, which is PO Box 608, Manchester Center, VT 05255.

Click here to vote

Berkshire Bank has long been a leader in philanthropy and community involvement. It demonstrates its commitment to the communities it does business in through its charitable contributions, volunteerism and civic leadership. The Berkshire Bank Foundation has awarded more than $13 million in donations to non-profit organizations since its inception.

Music for Mankind, Inc. (www.musicformankind.net) contributes proceeds from its benefit concert series, Music For Mankind®, to such entities as the UN World Food Program, The Prem Rawat Foundation, Feeding America, local food banks and more, and is focused on the important issue of chronic hunger worldwide.

Thank you!

Kelly Moore
President/CEO
Music For Mankind, Inc.

World Premiere of Nicaragua Documentary A Success

2009-11-27T15:42:00.007-05:00

Photo: Northshire Bookstore owner Chris Morrow and Kelly Moore

Manchester, VT The World Premiere showing of Kelly Moore’s documentary, “Nicaragua – On The Ground”, was held at the prestigious Northshire Bookstore, winner of the Publisher’s Weekly Annual Bookseller’s Award, in Manchester, VT on Wednesday November 12.

The film documents Kelly’s week-long journey as a US Delegate for the Friends of the World Food Program, visiting the United Nations World Food Program's operations on the ground in Nicaragua in July 2008, showing the difficulties faced by the Nicaraguans and the efforts and successes of the World Food Program. The documentary includes interviews with Karen Sendelback, President and CEO of the Friends of the World Food Program; and Margot Hoerrner, Vice President, Outreach, Friends of the World Food Program; as well as Community Coordinators of the Friends of the World Food Program who were part of the journey.

"Kelly is doing terrific work raising awareness at the grassroots for something that should be on the front pages”, said Chris Morrow, owner of the bookstore. “Hunger is a growing problem that has solutions - we just need action. Kelly Moore is a man of action!"

“I was quite pleased with the turnout and the incredible response to the film,” Kelly said later. “The Q&A session lasted an hour, and probably could have continued long into the night. People are really concerned about the situation of global hunger, here in the US and around the world, and want to know how to help.”

Presentations of “Nicaragua – On The Ground” are being scheduled around Vermont, New Hampshire and other New England States. The DVD of the film is available at the presentations and on the website as well, at www.musicformankind.net, with the proceeds being contributed to the UN World Food Programme – Nicaragua.

For more information about the film presentation series or to book Kelly, call 802-362-3806 or visit the website.

Kelly Moore Favorite of Friends of the World Food Program Chairman

2009-10-12T09:29:00.001-04:00

MUSIC FOR MANKIND® FOUNDER KELLY MOORE SEEN AS FAVORITE BY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF FRIENDS OF THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM.

Held on October 6th in Washington D.C. Chairman Randy Russell compliments the humanitarian at this year’s Eighth Annual Awards Ceremony.

As “The George McGovern Leadership Award: Uniting To End World Hunger” was being presented to Connecticut congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, humanitarian Kelly Moore was being appreciated by a number of World Food Program board members, committee members and corporate sponsors for his efforts to help end chronic global hunger. “You’re my newest hero,” said Mr. Russell, while photographer bulbs popped.

The humanitarian was greeted by a number of politicians and corporate sponsors for the United Nations World Food Program and his speaking panel was well received by a number of committee members. Moore states: “I feel very honored to have been asked to speak at the Summit On Global Hunger, and I’m very enthusiastic about the response I received to my talk about Music For Mankind® and how we can continue helping the incredible efforts of the United Nations World Food Program”.

Moore came back to Manchester with an inspiring perspective after this year’s summit.
“The Summit brought together an incredible array of professionals in the field of global and chronic hunger issues from Africa, South and Southeast Asia, South America, the U.S., politicians, corporate sponsors, artists, and more. Hearing their perspective and learning from their experiences and knowledge gave me a deeper appreciation for the issues and the possibilities for solving the problem. Global, chronic hunger is a problem with a solution,” Moore states.

Moore will be doing a number of lecture series throughout the Northeast. For more information go to www.musicformankind.net

Kelly Moore Accepts Invitation To Speak At Summit

2009-09-23T14:18:00.002-04:00

Humanitarian, founder and CEO of Music For Mankind® Kelly Moore will be speaking on behalf of his organization at the United Nation’s Friends of the World Food Program’s Second Annual Summit on Global Hunger in Washington D.C. on October 5th.

"Kelly’s unique perspective is a welcome addition to our lineup of speakers,” said Margot Hoerrner, Vice President for Outreach, Friends of the World Food Program. “His dedication and compassion to fighting hunger worldwide and his trips to observe food assistance operations in the field make him an ideal partner in educating and inspiring our volunteers."

Kelly Moore was excited and honored to have received the invitation. "It's not only an incredible honor to be invited to speak at this prestigious event, but also a great opportunity to continue helping and spreading the word, and inspiring others to do what they can to help."

Moore recently released a 30-minute documentary titled “Nicaragua --On The Ground” which documents his 2008 trip to Nicaragua with the members of the Friends of the World Food Program as a U.N. Delegate for the World Food Programme. His experiences in the areas hardest hit by hunger and malnutrition prompted him to share his experiences with others.

Moore states:"People are just getting to know about Music For Mankind® and my efforts to help through my concerts, lectures and now the new documentary, "Nicaragua - On The Ground". These two special events give me an incredible opportunity to inspire more people to help, and Music For Mankind® is such a positive way to bring people together in this effort."

Kelly Moore To Speak At UN International Peace Day

2009-08-30T16:33:00.000-04:00

Music For Mankind® founder Kelly Moore has accepted an invitation to speak at Peace Day Exeter 2009, on Sunday September 20, an event that is part of the UN International Peace Day event that takes place September 21, 2009. Communities all over the world are hosting similar events, and Mr. Moore will be part of a panel of speakers in Exeter, New Hampshire to celebrate the event.

"I am very excited to have Kelly Moore, one of only three Community Delegates of the Friends of the World Food Program, speak at Peace Day Exeter 2009, " said Cynthia Lategan, Chairperson of the Peace Day Exeter Steering Committee. "While the focus of our event is on peace and sustainability, hunger is something that threatens both of these most noble goals...so addressing world hunger must be a part of the equation. Kelly’s work fits wonderfully into that equation."

"I'm honored to be invited to speak at such an important occasion," Kelly stated. "My work, my life, my music, my ambitions are all based and centered on peace. Peace Day Exeter 2009 has grown so quickly in just two years, and this year will see another dramatic growth. It's important that people understand the possibility of knowing peace within. That's the only place to find it. My work with Music For Mankind® is based on helping people so that they can live in peace and dignity."

The event takes place noon to 5 PM at Swasey Parkway in Exeter, New Hampshire. Mr. Moore will be speaking at approximately 4:00 PM as part of a panel of speakers. For more information please visit www.peacedayexeter.org or email Cynthia Lategan at cindy@peacedayexeter.org.

"Nicaragua - On The Ground" Documentary

2009-08-04T16:14:00.001-04:00

Announcing, at long last, the release of the humanitarian documentary I produced, "Nicaragua - On The Ground" about my trip as UN Delegate for the World Food Programme to Nicaragua in July 2008. Info and trailer at www.musicformankind.net/videos/videos.htm
Enjoy!

Peru Calling

2009-04-09T11:56:00.006-04:00

"Please do not forget us!"

Music For Mankind® joins Friends of the World Food Program in special fundraiser for Peru

I found these people, an ancient culture of well over 10,000 years old, to be very thoughtful of others. We attended many beautiful ceremonies, and many gracious, kind and welcoming speeches were made. The one that stays with me still is the last one. The gentleman who spoke begged us, "Please do not forget us. We will need your help in the dry seasons, and our neighbors need the help you have so kindly given us, too."

And it really doesn't take much. Just give $5 or $10, if we all help together, we can make a big difference. If everyone in the village brings one brick, we can build a foundation. Here, the foundation is food. Without that, there is nothing else. With that, school becomes a real possibility, with the ability and interest to learn and grow. From that, all things are possible.

Following our successful trip to Peru, Music For Mankind® and the Friends of the World Food Program have begun a fundraising program for the areas we visited. Each of us on the team are reaching out to do all we can to help those who were so kind and gracious to us during our visit there. Please help us help them by going to www.mycampaign.kintera.org/mfm. Make sure to select "The area I'm most interested in" drop-down window and scroll down to select Peru. Friends of WFP staff are alerted to watching for your tax deductible contributions to go directly to helping these incredible people.

Thank you so much for your support!

Kelly

WFP Success in Peru

2009-03-31T09:44:00.012-04:00

I just got back from Peru on early Wednesday morning. It was truly a life-changing experience. Before this trip, I would always say, “I can talk about global hunger and the work of WFP until I’m red in the face, but I won’t truly understand it until I see it firsthand.” Well, this turned out to be true. As we were visiting the operations in Peru, I just couldn’t get over how impressive and efficient WFP was in implementing its programs. I saw how WFP does more than just feed people; it helps people feed themselves.

I was fortunate enough to visit a tile-making factory while I was in Peru. The factory was in the village of En Puruchcku. The factory looked very different than the ones we have in the United States. It was an open area, with a couple of huts and a big oven like building. Most of the work was done outside. The factory opened in 2007 and started out as a food for work project. WFP and ABA (WFP’s non-governmental partner in Peru) taught the factory workers different methods of tile production. In 2007 and 2008, the project was able to provide roof tiles for 180 homes (with 400,000 tiles), 9,000 block tiles used for the flooring of homes and 1,000 tubes needed for a sprinkler and irrigation system used throughout the community.

The factory has had so much success that they are now receiving money, instead of food, for their work and are selling these tiles to other communities in the area, as well as several companies in the nearby city of Ayacucho. Prior to purchasing tiles from En Puruchcku, factories in Ayacucho were buying tiles from the capital city of Lima, several hundred miles away.

I found the people who worked in this factory to be truly inspirational. They were extremely hard workers and had a passion for their craft. It really shows you what someone can do with a little bit of help.

Listen to our Behind the Scenes Conference Call from Lima.

Brian J. Ward
Outreach Associate
Friends of WFP

Child in Peru

2009-03-26T09:48:00.001-04:00

Photo by Stella Metsovas

Music Industry News

2009-03-25T14:22:00.001-04:00

http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=117699

Link above is to a nice article in Music Industry News Network about MFM and Kelly's trip. It reads, in part:

“Kelly Moore’s dedication and enthusiasm to this cause has been highly beneficial to our work,” said Karen Sendelback, President and CEO, Friends of the World Food Program. “Through his efforts, we raised awareness and funds to help feed hungry people all over the world.”

From Ed Smith

2009-03-25T12:45:00.007-04:00

Photos by Ed Smith

2009-03-25T12:31:00.000-04:00

Wednesday March 25, 2009

2009-03-25T12:28:00.002-04:00

More than two miles above sea level, a gracious people live a rugged life in harmony with their land
The people we visited migrated to the high Andes Mountains of Peru 6,000 years ago. They suffered horrible atrocities from 1980 to 2000 during a civil war started by a group known as the Shining Path. The World Food Program, by providing food for work and food for education, has helped them put their lives back together. This initiative by WFP is set to end in June. As a volunteer for Friends of the World Food Program, I was very fortunate to be able to experience their culture, share their food, and see the tremendous work they have done in cultivating their fields and building their communities. These gracious people will forever be in my thoughts. I would like to introduce these people to you.

2009-03-25T12:08:00.001-04:00

Friday, March 20, 2009
WFP in Peru--Making a Difference
When I think of the most typical WFP operations, I think of programs in which food is provided to ensure that people survive until tomorrow and WFP food is the only food people have available. The programs we saw this week were not the typical WFP programs. They provided so much more: training and projects to help improve people’s lives.

This morning, we climbed high into the mountains again, this time to visit a man-made lagoon that helps people in local communities harvest rainwater. Without the lagoon, these families have water only five months or so out of the year. With the help of WFP and ABA, a local, non-governmental partner, the construction of these lagoons has ensured that people in the towns near Union Potrero have access to water for themselves and their animals throughout the entire year. They have even begun installing irrigation systems on their farms to make better use of the water and increase their harvests!

At the lagoon, we were joined by ABA and WFP staff, along with many of the villagers from Union Potrero. We got to watch and participate in a water blessing ceremony, very similar to the agriculture ceremony Meredith discussed in her latest blog post.

As the leader of the community stepped up to speak, he explained that when they first had the idea of creating the lagoon water reservoir, nobody believed it could succeed. The idea of building a lagoon with walls made of stone and land, rather than cement, seemed like an impossible idea. But they didn’t give up and even began building it themselves, using their bare hands to scrape away the land to create a large hole. This was extremely difficult work.

Luckily, WFP and ABA came along and offered their support for the project. Together with the villagers, they brought in machinery to dig out the lagoon and then worked with the community to perfect it and maintain it while it filled with water from the rainy season. In exchange for their work on this project, WFP provides food assistance to families that supplements their regular diets.

I am just so fascinated by the large scope of the WFP projects we have seen on this trip. Not only do families receive food, but they learn the skills needed to sustain themselves.

Jessica Lennon
Communications Assistant
Friends of WFP

Posted at 04:43 PM in Peru 2009 | Permalink | Co

Peru 2009

2009-03-24T21:10:00.011-04:00

The incredible opportunity to travel as a UN Delegate to Peru with the Friends of the World Food Program for the United Nations World Food Programme is an incredible honor for me. To see and experience first-hand the beauty of the people and their country, and learn of their joys and their difficulties makes my efforts with Music For Mankind® (www.musicformankind.net) very personal. To help in whatever way I can touches my heart in a way that words may not describe.

I have produced a short video of the trip, included here (click here), which will later become a full documentary. I hope you enjoy seeing some of the beauty that we experienced.

My sincere thanks to the Friends of the World Food Program and my fellow travelers for an incredible adventure!

Kelly Moore

Photos from Peru

2009-03-23T14:05:00.002-04:00

http://friendsofwfp.typepad.com/friends/

There are some wonderful images at this link of our Peruvian adventure.

Email Blast

2009-03-23T14:01:00.002-04:00

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE.

This is a post with images of our trip.

New Heights!

2009-03-21T20:05:00.000-04:00

Today we soared to new heights in many respects, as we embarked on an impressive, all-day journey to around 14,000 feet. Fortunately, the high altitude did not have a major impact on me, thanks to natural preventative measures. The maginificent Andes Mountains were breathtaking. Around every bend was a unbelievable display of color, cliffs, mountainsides and villages.

We experienced so much today it is difficult to get it all in, so I will share one of my experiences with you. When we arrived at Union Petrero, a small village about 12,000 feet up, we were greeted by happy indigenous people. You could feel the warmness from their hearts radiating. During the welcoming ritual, we were greeted by the head of the community and presented with beautiful music, delicious food and sombreros. I even got asked to dance. Who would have thought I would have been dancing with a villager in Peru! I think that best part of the dance was trying our best to learn their style of dance. Don't worry, we will have pictures soon!

Loving Peru!

Stacey Doremus

Visit to Chakiccocha

2009-03-21T20:03:00.000-04:00

From 14,000 feet high in the Andes mountains, our group of nine Americans – five WFP Committee volunteers and four Friends of WFP staff – watched in awe as the Quechua people of the village of Chakiccocha shared their ancient ritual to bless and prepare their land for the next harvest season. This ritual was truly a once-in-a-lifetime insight into the indigenous Quechua culture, and we were invited with open arms to observe and participate in this beautiful tradition.

It started off with an invitation for men and women to sit, on separate sides of the land, and face two village elders, who sat in front of a blanket covered with a lovely woven basket and a variety of offerings that would play an integral role in this ritual. With the backdrop of the Andes mountains, brown rock and red clay and all shades of green, broken only by an occasional home or patch of yellow or purple flowers, the setting truly could not have been more stunning. As the village leaders began to put fruits in the offering basket two by two, followed by cotton, coca leaf (a traditional plant that is chewed or made into tea by the people of the Andes), flowers and seeds, one of the Spanish-speaking villagers (most speak only Quechua) explained to us what was going on. When all offerings were placed in the basket, a hole was dug in front of a stone, and the villagers sang a song asking that the land open up and accept their offerings. As one leader dug this hole, a sense of happiness could be felt. It was determined that the land truly did open itself to accept the offering, as the soil was soft and there were no rocks in the hole. The basket was lowered into the opening on a bed of straw and then re-covered with dirt and then stones.

The villagers then moved on to the second portion of the ritual – the preparation of the land. The men stood in line and used a tool invented by the Incas to break the land. The women faced them and, with their bare hands, pushed the freshly broken soil to one side, creating rows in which the villagers would later plant seeds. As this was taking place, a rumbling could be heard, and the skies opened up, first with rain and then with hail. Our group took shelter, groping for our ponchos and coats, but the villagers were unfazed. They explained that the rain was like a jacket for them, and they welcome it. The rain proved an important symbol to close out this ritual, guaranteeing a good harvest to come.

I can barely put into words how special it felt to be welcomed with so much love into the lives of a people practicing such a magnificent, ancient culture. I can’t wait to sleep in another such village tonight and really experience a full day in their lives.

Meredith Slater
Development Associate
Friends of WFP

WFP in Peru-Making a Difference

2009-03-21T20:01:00.000-04:00

When I think of the most typical WFP operations, I think of programs in which food is provided to ensure that people survive until tomorrow and WFP food is the only food people have available. The programs we saw this week were not the typical WFP programs. They provided so much more: training and projects to help improve people’s lives.

This morning, we climbed high into the mountains again, this time to visit a man-made lagoon that helps people in local communities harvest rainwater. Without the lagoon, these families have water only five months or so out of the year. With the help of WFP and ABA, a local, non-governmental partner, the construction of these lagoons has ensured that people in the towns near Union Potrero have access to water for themselves and their animals throughout the entire year. They have even begun installing irrigation systems on their farms to make better use of the water and increase their harvests!

At the lagoon, we were joined by ABA and WFP staff, along with many of the villagers from Union Potrero. We got to watch and participate in a water blessing ceremony, very similar to the agriculture ceremony Meredith discussed in her latest blog post.

As the leader of the community stepped up to speak, he explained that when they first had the idea of creating the lagoon water reservoir, nobody believed it could succeed. The idea of building a lagoon with walls made of stone and land, rather than cement, seemed like an impossible idea. But they didn’t give up and even began building it themselves, using their bare hands to scrape away the land to create a large hole. This was extremely difficult work.

Luckily, WFP and ABA came along and offered their support for the project. Together with the villagers, they brought in machinery to dig out the lagoon and then worked with the community to perfect it and maintain it while it filled with water from the rainy season. In exchange for their work on this project, WFP provides food assistance to families that supplements their regular diets.

I am just so fascinated by the large scope of the WFP projects we have seen on this trip. Not only do families receive food, but they learn the skills needed to sustain themselves.

Jessica Lennon
Communications Assistant
Friends of WFP

Conference Call March 20

2009-03-20T12:55:00.002-04:00

As Kelly's trip to Peru comes to an end and he begins to head home, it was great fun to hear him speak today on the live conference call. It was extraordinary, helpful, concise, packed with images and information about what the team had experienced throughout the past week and most of all, very hopeful and uplifting.

A recording will be available as a podcast in a about one week. If interested visit the WFP's site listed on other posts here on the blog.

Personally, I feel humbled and grateful to be involved in Music for Mankind in the very small way I contribute, as a member of it's board of directors and has someone who wants to help Kelly fulfill his vision of helping those in need.

Best to all.

Candice Wilmore
Lansing, MI

The View from Peru

2009-03-18T21:54:00.001-04:00

Posted: 18 Mar 2009 07:52 AM PDT

There are so many incredible views here. Every turn in the road brought us to another different and amazing sight. We are up over 13,000 feet. Villagers here are so kind and loving. It There is such an incredible connection and love between the people here and the earth. We saw a beautiful ritual for the crops that should bring rain, which is considered a great sign for the growing season. There was food, music and dancing before and after. I'll have more about my experience in Peru later.

Kelly

Monday March 16

2009-03-17T19:09:00.002-04:00

The Twitter link below is fun to read if you wish. I'm sure Kelly is having an amazing adventure.

Candice (VP Music for Mankind)

This was posted on http://friendsofwfp.typepad.com/friends/

Our first full day in Peru started bright and early as we left our hotel for the airport around 5 AM. Even though we hadn't gotten much sleep and it was still dark outside, you could feel the excitement in the van as we went to catch our flight.

We flew in a tiny, 15-seater jet up to Ayacucho, a city at about 10,000 feet above sea level. I've never been a huge fan of small planes, but it's hard to complain when I look out the window and see the Andes Mountains sprawling before me and the other beautiful landscapes below. Not only is this my first time in Peru, but I realized it's my first trip south of the Equator!

After we arrived, we settled into our hotel to get some rest. With such a big altitude change, we didn't know how our bodies would react so we took it easy that day. I got especially lightheaded over lunch, but after drinking some matte de coca (coca tea, a local remedy for altitude sickness) I was feeling much better.

We spent the afternoon at the WFP Ayacucho office, and we met the staff who will accompany us on our program visits. We took this opportunity to learn more details about the journey. I just can't wait for tomorrow! We are leaving at 7 AM for the town of Union Potrero to visit the headquarters of ABA, a Peruvian NGO that works with WFP. Then we'll head into the field to see the incredible things WFP and ABA are accomplishing together on the ground.

Goodnight from Ayacucho!

Jessica Lennon
Communications Assistant
Friends of WFP

Wanna Twitter?

2009-03-15T20:41:00.000-04:00

A Twitter address you may want as well:

"I wanted to give all the readers one exciting update. For all you Twitter fans, we will hopefully be "tweeting from the field" as well as blogging!
Watch www.twitter.com/friendsofwfp to keep up with us!

Next time you hear from me, I'll be in Peru!"

-Jessica Lennon
Communications Assistant
Friends of WFP

Kelly Invited to Peru

2009-03-12T21:04:00.005-04:00

Kelly Moore (shown during earlier trip to Nicaragua) has been invited once again as a UN Delegate, this time to Peru, as part of a team from the Friends of the World Food Program to observe and take part in UN World Food Program field operations in the Andes Mountains for 5 days, March 15 to March 20. The group will be observing and assisting, in particular, pilot programs of the UN Millenium Development Goals www.un.org/millenniumgoals Of the 8 goals, they will be able to observe pilot programs which include 7 of these goals.

This will be an ongoing blog to update Kelly's adventures during the trip so stop back to stay in touch if you want!

He leaves Sunday, March 15. Below is a post from Kelly as he prepares to leave and from the World Food Program's Communications Assistant.

Happy Travels to all and stop back here for updates!

Note from Kelly: Next Stop Peru

2009-03-12T20:36:00.001-04:00

It's still amazing to me that I get to go on this journey to Peru. The itinerary is stunning, and we'll get to see so much, and learn so much, and hopefully, help so much.

Today there came a moment when I realized that everything I'm attempting to get done here that doesn't directly apply to going to Peru, is done. I've basically stopped in the middle of several projects because what lies ahead really deserves my complete attention.

Almost everything is packed, everything tested and road-ready. I arrived at a moment today of calm, knowing that, while the maelstrom of preparation activity continues, the journey has already begun. I'm on my way to Peru.

I'll get to meet people I never knew before that I would get to meet, and learn a lot from them, and hopefully contribute a lot to them so that, as a global community, we grow closer and stronger and better.

Next posting will be from Peru. Till then,

Kelly

Notes from Friends of WFP

2009-03-12T17:55:00.002-04:00

This Sunday evening, I will be arriving in Peru to spend 5 days traveling through the Andes with a group of Friends of WFP staff and volunteers. Over the course of the week, we will be visiting a variety of WFP programs to learn about what the agency is doing in the field. As I prepare for the trip, I wonder what it will be like and how the experience will affect me. Above all, I am simply thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in something like this. I lived overseas in the developing world when I was a child, but since third grade my travels have been confined to the United States and Europe, with only a couple exceptions. I’m not entirely sure how to write my thoughts down, so I’ll just start out with why I’m excited to go on this trip.

I am excited to experience a new culture. Although I have lived in Latin America, I have never been to Peru before.

I am excited to get to know some of our advocates on a personal level. I have met some of them briefly, but after we travel around the Peruvian countryside together, I can only imagine how much better I will know them.

I am excited to see WFP’s work in action, so I can truly grasp how important WFP assistance is to so many people around the world. At Friends of WFP, I read about what WFP is doing on a daily basis. I have access to a wealth of stories and photos of people who benefit from these programs, but I don’t think anything can replace seeing WFP’s work firsthand and actually meeting and interacting with the people who know what WFP truly means. I think the trip will bring me much closer to the people we help as employees, volunteers and supporters of Friends of WFP.

Guess what one of the best parts of this trip is? You will be able to follow along with us on our travels, I hope! Assuming we are able to access the internet from Peru – I have my fingers crossed – we will be blogging from the field in Peru as we take photos, meet WFP staff and food recipients, and learn about how WFP is making an impact in peoples’ lives. Stay tuned for more information about our trip

-Jessica Lennon
Communications Assistant
Friends of WFP
http://friendsofwfp.typepad.com/friends/