The gift of HOPE raises from these Voices

#CancerSucks

– We sing with Voices of Hope to raise money, awareness, and hope for the fight against cancer. We sing for our family members and friends who have fought or are fighting their battle with cancer, for those who have lost and those who have won. We sing in honor of those whose voices have gone silent much too soon.

On January 13th, Voices of Hope (VOH), a local non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for cancer research through musical performance, presented a check for their fundraising efforts in 2017 for the amount of $100,000 to the Henri and Belinda Termeer Center for Targeted Therapies at the Mass General Cancer Center. Established in 2009 as a way to honor loved ones impacted by cancer, VOH has achieved a great level of success in raising funds through theatrical and musical performances large and small, in venues such as Symphony Hall, North Shore Music Theatre, TD Garden, Gillette Stadium, the Hatch Shell, and Fenway Park.

( from L to R: VOH Executive Artistic Director:Dana Siegal, VOH Treasurer:Jean Chastain,VOHFounder/President:Greg Chastain , from the Termeer Center, Erika Rosata:Director of Nursing, Michelle Griffin: Development, Dr. Dejan Juric, VOH Director of Membership:Beth Consoli,
VOH Vice President: Ed Siegal )

This group of dedicated members voluntarily work year-round to attract donors who support their journey. They have successfully secured private and corporate sponsors, including Fuddruckers, Conquer Cancer Coalition, Sotheby’s by the Sea and Walmart to help offset the significant costs associated with theatrical production. It is through these efforts that VOH has connected with thousands of people who are moved by the power and passion of their song and have joined their ever-growing community of hope for a cure.

From the performers, to the choreographers, musicians, back-stage tech, and directors, VOH productions usually represent more than 100 members. Personally impacted by cancer and dedicated to finding a cure, these volunteers collectively donate thousands of hours to rehearsal and planning every year, inspired by the possibilities born by significant advances being achieved through cancer research.

Since 2009, VOH has donated over $600,000 to cancer research and specifically $465,500 to the Termeer Center for Targeted Therapies at the MGH Cancer Center.

Speaking about this group, founder and president Greg Chastain had this to say, “I am most proud of the fact that this organization not only supports cancer research but has become a tight-knit community where people from all walks of life and talent can come to sing, dance, tech, build, paint or just support each other in their daily lives. Many of our members are cancer survivors or family members/friends of survivors or are there supporting the memory of loved ones they have lost to cancer. Cancer is a club nobody has asked to be in but we have become a family that not only works many hours to support our goals and mission but is there to support each member when they need it the most. And we have entire families that share in this loving family. Many tell us it is a second family that they love and can’t wait to get together each week.”

(Voices Of Hope's "Children of Eden" spring 2017)

Through out the year VOH raises money for this cause, in 2017 it was through stage shows at North Shore Music Theater such as Stephen Shwartz’s “Children of Eden” in the spring and “Broadway and Beyond”, their fall gala.

("You will be found" from the VOH fall gala, “Broadway and Beyond” 2017)

Money was also raised through VOH golf and tennis tournaments. Members also go out of their way to raise funds to find a cure, the biggest in 2017 being Roger Desjardins who ran a 1,000 miles in honor of his late mother who was battling cancer through out most of the year and through pledge donations brought in over $15,000 for the MGH cancer center to help find a cure.

(Roger Desjardins and the VOH crew as he completes his 1,000 mile journey)

Everyone has been touched by cancer in one way or another in their lives,

won't you please help this wonderful group raise money for the fight against this dreaded disease?

Next up on their march to a million campaign is the Voices Of Hope spring musical production of WORKING.

From the pride of the third generation ironworker and resilience of the teacher who has seen “great changes over the past 40 years,” to the enthusiasm of the young salesman in his first job, the business woman determined to be “more than just her job,” and the waitress who embraces service as “an art-form,” Working portrays stories of the American workforce that resonate with ordinary familiarity-but this musical is anything but ordinary!

Nominated for six Tony Awards, this often funny, sometimes serious, but always genuine production, based on Studs Terkel’s 1974 best-selling book of interviews with American workers, has been updated for a modern age, featuring new songs by HAMILTON creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, along with favorites by Stephen Schwartz (WICKED, GODSPELL), and such familiar works as James Taylor’s Millworker and Brother Trucker.

Working delivers a powerful contemporary score and a highly original look at the stores of 26 different people, offering something for anyone who has ever had a job, loved a job, quit a job or is simply “working” for a living.

For tickets, please call 978-232-7200

or online at http://www.nsmt.org/concerts.html

VOH online:http://www.voicesofhopeboston.org/

VOH on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/voicesofhopeboston/