GUELPH – Acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter Alan Doyle will join local musicians and mental health advocates on April 30 for an intimate evening of stories and songs.
The audience will be among the first to hear a new song that was cowritten by Doyle, CxViolet and The New People, with contributions from youth at The Grove Wellington Guelph.
The fundraiser will kick off The Oak Tree Project’s eighth edition of community fundraising and storytelling, led by The Mactaggart Hryn Family of Guelph.
“Oak Tree 8 is focused on youth mental health and sharing stories about how music is a tool of healing, connection and renewal. We are partnering with The Awesome Music Project (AMP), a charity that explores the transformative power of music through the sharing of stories, songs, and science,” said event organizer and Oak Tree co-founder Will Mactaggart.
“Our goal is to raise $30,000 so AMP can bring a full year of its Awesome Music Hour programming to every Grove location in Wellington and Guelph,”
Also set to perform and share their stories about the power of music and mental health are local artists Mikalyn and James Gordon, and Valentina Sarmiento from the Grove. The event will also include an auction of exclusive, music-related items.
About the Awesome Music Project
The Awesome Music Project is a Canadian charitable foundation, dedicated to supporting research and raising awareness of music’s impact on mental health and mental wellness.
It does this by developing music-centred mental wellness programs and partnering with local organizations for on-the-ground delivery.
AMP’s cost-effective and sustainable community-facing programs are designed for those aged 10 and over and can benefit a wide variety of people and groups, including youth, seniors, long-term care residents, Indigenous communities, first responders, frontline healthcare workers, veterans, and the general population.
About The Grove Hubs
The goal of The Grove Wellington Guelph is to build a more effective health and social service system, through integration and collaboration, to better meet the needs of youth in Wellington County and Guelph.
The Grove Wellington Guelph currently includes seven sites where youth have access to programs and services that provide guidance and support for the future.
From education and career support, to counselling and peer-to-peer programs, The Grove facilities provide help and encouragement to every youth in the community.
About The Oak Tree Project
In 2014, the Mactaggart-Hryn family had a vision to not only give back but empower Guelph and Wellington charities with a platform to gather and share stories about their impact.
Funds raised help to offset operating costs as well as programs to strengthen their roots and further their long-term success and growth.
Each year focuses on a different area of need. To date, more than $250,000 has been raised for local charities.
The event
The event kicks off the Oak Tree Project’s year of awesome music.
Community members are encouraged to visit oaktreeguelph.ca to share songs and how they bring them joy and help them through difficult times.
The Oak Tree Project will build and share a playlist of the songs later this year.
The evening of stories and song will be held April 30 at Cutten Fields in Guelph.
Tickets, at $238.75 each, are on sale at Oaktreeguelph.ca. Event expenses are being covered by The Oak Tree Project so that 100% of all ticket sales and donations will support the Awesome Music Project.
