"The community of Guelph responded to the need in Haiti by working together, singing together, and giving together according to the organizers of a benefit concert to Help Haiti.
“In coming together as a community, Guelph demonstrated what it means to be fully human – to reach out with compassion and care to others,” said Rev. Paul Clarkson.
On Feb. 7, a benefit concert, Help Haiti, was presented at The River Run Centre featuring a wide selection of local area talent.
The artist line-up included Kevin Breit and Ted Warren, Scott Merritt, Jane Bunnett, Dionne Brand, the University of Guelph Choirs, and The Guelph Music Revue: Andrew Craig, Nick Craine, Craig Norris, Shane Philips, Tannis Slimmon, Sue Smith and the Season Singers, and Sam Turton (with Jeff Bird, Adam Bowman, Vish Khanna, Brenda Lewis, Jane Lewis, Ambre McLean, Brenda McMorrow, Stu Peterson, Jesse Turton and Jude Vadala).
All services were donated in order to make the humanitarian event possible, including the River Run Centre facilities ,which were donated by the City of Guelph.
The initial fundraising goal of $20,000 was exceeded, with $21,455 raised from ticket sales, individual donations, donated bar receipts, and, donated artist CD sales – which alone totaled $1,150. All of the proceeds were donated to the Canadian Red Cross and organizers Rev. Clarkson, Dr. Ajay Heble, and Turton expect that those funds will be matched by the federal government.
The organizers thanked everyone involved for their generosity in making the event a success.
