Orchestra to Make Community Donation to Give Kids the World

The Whitewater High School Orchestra in Fayette County is paying it forward to an organization that helped one of its own while dealing with a life-threatening illness.

The Orchestra is scheduled to perform at the Give Kids the World Village in Kissimmee, FL on April 2. Give Kids the World is a nonprofit organization that provides memorable, magical, cost-free experiences to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families by arranging visits to the Central Florida attractions. Children and their families stay at the Give Kids the World Village during their visit.

Back in 2004, one of the orchestra’s families was granted a wish by the organization. They and their child, who was diagnosed with leukemia, stayed at the village and visited Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Universal Studios, all at no cost to the family. Fortunately, this child’s story has a happy ending.

“The young man’s leukemia is in remission. Now it is our turn to repay the gift,” says orchestra teacher Darilyn Esterline.

The orchestra would like to give the nonprofit a sizable donation from the community immediately following their performance. Anyone interested in helping is asked to write a check, payable to Give Kids the World, and bring or mail it to Whitewater High School, 100 Wildcat Way, Fayetteville, GA 30215.

The orchestra leaves for Florida on March 31, so donations need to be at the school prior to their departure. More information about Give Kids the World is available on the organization’s website, www. gktw.org. Interested persons can also contact orchestra teacher Darilyn Esterline at 770-460-3935, ext. 219 or by email at esterline.darilyn@fcboe.org.

Another way to help is to provide items and supplies needed for the day-to-day operations of the Give Kids the World Village. A copy of a wish list is posted on the GKTW website, click on the “how to help” tab at the top. The school will collect these items as well to present along with monetary donations.

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Atlanta Symphony Takes Part in Orchestras Feeding America

March 26 through March 31, the Atlanta Symphony took part in Orchestras Feeding America, an initiative inspired by the movie The Soloist about Nathaniel Ayers, a Julliard trained string player with schizophrenia who found himself homeless on the streets of Los Angeles. Over 250 orchestras in all 50 states participated in this unprecedented effort by collecting and donating food for local food assistance agencies.

The ASO partnered with the Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Foundation and the Fulton County Department of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Addictive Diseases to raise awareness about artists and performers with mental illness and collected 1300 pounds of food for the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB). During the drive, Jerome Lawrence, a Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Foundation Artist-in-Residence, displayed his work in Gallery 100 at the Woodruff Arts Center.

If you'd like to see photos: http://www.atlantasymphony.org/Aso/MediaCenter/photos/food_drive.aspx
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