Non-profit organized to help provide athletic, artistic opportunity
By Staff Reports
Published in News on June 6, 2010 1:50 AM
The Live On Foundation, a non-profit organization to help children and teenagers living in alternative homes such as foster homes, orphanages, etc., will be holding a benefit concert, "A Night Of Dreams," at 7 p.m. Paramount Theatre on June 19.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. Tickets are limited to 500 and may be purchased online at www.liveonfoundation.org. They will not be sold at the door.
The concert will feature national recording artist and songwriter Vaughan Penn; international Christian recording artist Sheppe Fuller; national Christian recording artist and performer Shirley Proctor; and off-Broadway star and performer Kim Harris.
Former Buffalo Bills NFL player Phillip Crosby, a co-founder of the organization, will be a special guest as well.
Debra Proctor is the foundation's founder and its chief executive officer. A volunteer in numerous capacities over the years, she said she has seen many, many young people unable to develop their talents or pursue their dreams because of a lack of support.
That is where the foundation comes in, she said. Its mission is to provide those children with the opportunity for academic, athletic and artistic success, regardless of their circumstances.
"What I have seen is a huge gap for these children," she said. "There are agencies or groups or churches that see to it that they are fed and clothed and have a shelter over their head, but when it comes those who have a talent, a gift, there often is no money anywhere for them to be able to pursue that talent."
She pointed to the recent hit movie "The Blind Side," which portrays the true story of a young man from poor circumstances who receives help and direction.
"There are thousands of kids just like that," she said. "Somebody has got to fill this gap."
With the assistance of individual donors, corporate sponsors, private foundations, workplace campaign workers and volunteers, Live On raises money to provide children in alternative homes with sports equipment, personal training, tutoring, art materials and musical instruments, as well as the opportunity to attend sports and academic camps and receive music, dance, voice, drama, art and creative writing lessons.
Live On is seeking grants to help raise money but Proctor said that takes time and that the benefit at the Paramount is a way to kick-start the program, which received its legal non-profit status only a few months ago.
Live On also will be hosting its first golf tournament June 15 at Walnut Creek Country Club to raise money. Sign-ups and more information can be found on the Foundation's website.
Proctor said the first group of young people selected for the program will include five from Wayne County. Wayne is her home, she explained, and is where she wanted to launch the fundraising end of the program.