Celebrating Life: Concert Series
Project People Foundation’s Celebrating Life Concert Series will run in at least 10 US cities over the next five years and raise $1,000,000 for PPF’s programs in South Africa.
Recent Celebrating Life Concerts
Temple Sholom of Chicago (April 3, 2011), Chicago, IL
- Benefit Co-Chairs: Mark and Shalondon Christensen, Members, Oakdale Covenant Church, Chicago, IL
- Benefactor Chairs: The Riverside Church, New York City, Temple Sholom of Chicago, Rabbi's Discretionary Fund, Oakdale Covenant Church, Chicago, IL
- Featured Artists:
- Walt Whitman's Sould Children of Chicago
- Diana Solomon-Glover - Soprano, The Riverside Church, New York City
- Cantor Aviva Katzman - Lyric Soprano, Temple Sholom of Chicago
- Honorary Patron:
- Bishop Horace E. Smith, M.D. Apostolic Faith Chruch, Chicago, IL
The Riverside Theatre (June 17, 2010), New York, NY
- Host: Cheryl Wills, Anchor and Reporter, NY1
- Featured Artists:
- Somi - New African soul singer and songwriter
- Teodross Avery - Jazz Saxophonist
- Giovanni Almonte - Composer and vocalist
- The Peace Poets - Spoken word arts collective
- Ceez - Spoken word artist
- Christine Vaindirlis - Singer
- Honorary Patron:
- Wallace Ford Principal and Founder, Fordworks Associates, Inc.
Congregation Rodeph Sholom (October 2009), New York, NY
- Benefit Co-Chairs: Robert and Sheila Friedland and Daisy Keepler-Askew
- Featured Artists:
- Diana Solomon-Glover, Lead soprano at The Riverside Church of New York City
- Cantor Rebecca Garfein, Mezzo-Soprano, Congregation Rodeph Sholom, New York City
- Guest Artists:
- The Ebony Ecumenical Ensamble, New York City
- Cantor Shayna Peavey, Mezzo-Soprano, Congregation Rodeph Sholom, New York City
- Congregation Rodeph Sholom Children's Choir, Congregation Rodeph Sholom, New York City
St Francis Xavier College Church at St. Louis University (October 2008), St. Louis, MO
- Honorary Patron: Charlayne Hunter-Gault
- Benefactor Chairs: The Riverside Church, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS
- Honorary Chair: Charles A. Dooley, St. Louis County Executive
- Guest Artists:
- Cantor Sharon Nathanson & B’nai Amoona Zamarim , Congregation B’nai Amoona
- Dello Thedford and the Gospel Symphonic Choir
- Raised $68,000; 650 guests.
The Riverside Church Mini-Concert (April 2008), New York, NY
- Honorary Patron: Keith Reinhard, Chairman Emeritus, DDB Worldwide
- Benefit Co-Chairs: Sheila and Bill Lambert; Jerri DeVard and Gregg Smith
- Benefactors: The Riverside Church, New York City; Congregation Rodeph Sholom, New York City
- Guest Artists:
- Cast of The Lion King Broadway Musical
- Cantor Rebecca Garfein, Congregation Rodeph Sholom, New York City
- The Ebony Ecumenical Ensemble, Bettye F. Forbes, Founder/Director
- Generated $34,000; 120 guests.
Ebenezer Baptist Church (November 2007), Atlanta, GA
- Honorary Patron: Archbishop Desmond Tutu
- Honorary Chairs:
- Johnnetta B. Cole, President emerita, Bennett College for Women and Spelman College
- Elaine B. Alexander, American Jewish Committee
- Guest artists: Morehouse College Glee Club, Cantor Deborah Numark, Deborah N. Gordon, Ken Ford
- Generated $80,000; over 1,000 guests.
Cason United Methodist Church (April 2007), Delray Beach, FL
- Honorary Patron: Stephen Lewis, Former UN Special Envoy for HIV / AIDS
- Honorary Chairs: Robert and Lynda Bentall, CEDAR Foundation
- Guest artists: Cantor, Ann Turnoff of Boca Raton, FL and The Florida Atlantic University Gospel Choir
- Raised over $53,000 in donations; over 500 guests.
