Twelve-year-old student Daniella Donati wants to help stop poverty. She's organized a benefit concert to raise money for the cause on Oct. 9 at the Roberts Creek Hall from 2 to 7 p.m.Daniella says images of starvation, isolation, confinement and illness endured by those living in poverty have touched her heart.
"I have initiated a fundraising event to help the children. Josh Ruddock and Grace Walker-Lane, students from Chatelech Secondary School, have joined me in the quest to help needy children all over the world," she said.
She and her friends have assembled a first rate group of performers for the benefit concert. Tiller's Folly, Perfect Ground, Gemini, Steve K, Rene Thomas and Sax Machine will be performing during the five-hour concert that costs $20 for adults and $15 for seniors.
"Seventy-five per cent of the proceeds of the concert will go to the B.C. Council for International Co-operation, that is involved with the "Make Poverty History," campaign and organized the Live8 concert in Barrie, Ontario this summer. The remaining 25 per cent of the proceeds will go to the Sunshine Coast Community Services Society to help families in poverty on the Sunshine Coast," she said.
She is also asking attendees to bring a non-perishable food item for the local food banks.
Daniella and her mother recently took part in the Vancouver march and rally to "Bridge the Poverty Gap," on Sept. 10 during the UN World Summit.
More than 2,000 people marked the summit by forming a human chain and marching across the Burrard Street bridge in a show of solidarity to the Make Poverty History campaign.
Daniella heard speakers talk about what children living in poverty have to face and the need to stand up for this marginalized group. For her, the event cemented the need to do something locally.
"The increasing number of children around the world living in poverty has touched the hearts of many people in our community. It's hard to visualize the tremendous obstacles these children have to face: starvation, isolation, confinement and the medical problems they endure every day are only a few of the many challenges," she said.
She hopes the Coast community will come out and support the Help Stop Poverty benefit concert on Sunday, Oct. 9, at the Roberts Creek Hall.
Tickets are available at Talewind Books, Pier 17, Roberts Creek General Store and Coast Books.
