Do you remember what you were doing when Haiti happened?
Just to refresh your memory, on January 12, 2010 Haiti was struck by a horrible, magnitude 7.0 earthquake. We all pulled together, some using Twitter to relay messages, offer help and support.
Remember the wonderful Telethon…worldwide…that George Clooney and others in the entertainment industry created? They came together to raise funds and awareness. What a great and inspiring event in our worlds history!
Time has moved on, and unfortunately, we’ve had many other catastrophes that have pulled our attention away from Haiti.
Fortunately there are those who remember and continue to move forward, looking to raise awareness and contribute…
Supplies are still being sent to Haiti and I recently heard a wonderful story about a local mom who wanted to help. Want to meet her?
Her name is Sharlin Craig. She is a Mom, active member in her community and writes and records her own music. She is also a patient music teacher. Her daughter Anna attends Spurgeon Pre-School, a part of Spurgeon United Methodist Church. I had the pleasure of interviewing her today. I asked her what prompted her to get involved.
Me: What prompted you to get involved?
Sharlin: I felt horrible and asked the school if they were going to do anything to help, possibly send supply kits (they were going to send 60). I decided that I needed to help and I asked permission to record a CD with the kids talking, singing songs and see what results we would get, sell them and then donate the proceeds to the Red Cross. The conversations are all set with classical music in the background.
Me: What kind of research did you do to know what kind of questions to ask and how to go about putting it all together.
Sharlin: I was inspired by Bill Cosby and Art Linkletter and started watching their shows to get ideas of what kinds of questions to ask the kids.
She rallied her friends for help and support. Her friend Emily Frye created the CD layout (which wasn’t easy being a 4 page jacket). She looked to see the colors of Haiti were and chose the color of the flag.
Her friend Gina Chiaramonte did the photograph’s.
Michael Maughan did the CD mastering, Sharlin worked on the production, engineering and music and Groove House records helped with the manufacturing and packaging it.
I asked her what her goal was.
Sharlin: We created 300 CD’s and I would like to get them all sold before the end of the school year (June 10th) and then donate all the proceeds to the Red Cross for relief for Haiti. I would for all of the children to know what it’s like to make a difference.
Here are her own words:
A benefit CD for the Haiti earthquake survivors was just recorded by Spurgeon preschool children in Orange County and is now available for purchase at CDBaby . The CD is filled with silly, profound, touching, unpredictable comments and songs by the children accompanied by beautiful classical music. Kids of all ages are responding to this CD. They love hearing the children’s’ voices. It’s also a great gift for expectant moms, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and basically for anyone who loves children. You will find yourself laughing and crying at its sweetness. Even though the voices on the CD are of the children at Spurgeon, they could be the innocent, sweet voice of any child.
We were inspired to find a way to help the Haitian people. We decided that recording and selling a CD would be a wonderful way for the children, at a very young age, to learn about the importance of helping others and allow them to take an active part in the process.
All proceeds of the purchase of this CD will be donated to the Haitian earthquake survivors. We will donate all proceeds to the American Red Cross Haiti Relief and Development Fund. Many thanks to CDBaby and Groove House Records for donating a portion of their proceeds to this cause.
What a great and inspiring story! Please help Sharlin and the children of Spurgeon Pre-school help those in Haiti. Order here.
