Concert A Success!

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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

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

Photo by Stella Metsovas

Music Industry News

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

Photos by Ed Smith

Wednesday March 25, 2009

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.

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