It is surprising and wonderful when one non-profit reaches out to support another non-profit in their community. Harbor City Music Company Show Chorus in Glen Burnie is raising money for their epic international trip to Honolulu, Hawaii to compete and represent this region with all the sweet adeline competitors around the globe in November 2013. On June 21st, they held their first golf tournament at Compass Pointe in Pasadena in support of this journey. It was a successful outing. Harbor City's management team decided that they would like to adopt a more needy organization in Anne Arundel County and give a percentage of their profits to another non-profit. Several organizations were put forward and the Cisco Center, a special needs educational facility in Severna Park, came out on top to be the beneficiary of these funds.
On Tuesday the 9th of July, a quartet from the group (Dot Stalberg, Jan Ferguson, Judy Martell and Elaine Wilreker) travelled to Severna Park to sing to the children at the Cisco Center and Cathy Shuman, the Management Team Leader, took off a day of work to join them and present a check to Cisco Nochera for $830 for children at the Center.
It was a magical morning in the Cisco Center as the kids were mesmerized by the quartet's wonderful expressive a capella style. They were encouraged to sing along and play instruments with the group and after the beautiful four part harmonies captured this special population of children, the quartet continued to sing all the kids favorites including "Wheels on the Bus", "Old MacDonald" and even a rousing rendition of "God Bless America" and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame". The kids loved it.
It was a rare and wonderful combination for these two non-profits to merge. As a mom of a special needs young man, I know that music is the way to the soul of this population of kids. Nicholas came with me and enjoyed the morning and ended the event with a huge kiss to one of the members to show his appreciation. One never knows what will move a child to reach out and make a connection socially with another human being and when a moment like this happens, it brings tears to the eye of the observer. Cisco told Cathy Shuman when they met, "the kids will love you because we sing to them during every transition through the day." Rhythm and Music is an important element to the children of the Cisco Center.
For more information on these two non-profits in Anne Arundel County, please go their websites. Both organizations need the financial support of their community.
harborcitymusiccompany.org and ciscocenter.org
