Barry Manilow To Play Concerts For 25 Charities

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Barry Manilow fans listen up: the man himself will be performing in a series of charity concerts in California at the end of the year!

Manilow will perform 5 concerts at McCallum Theatre in Palm Springs in December, with each show benefiting five different charities.

“Being able to give back to my hometown, both in song and charitable support, makes this concert series a very personal and special event for me,” said Manilow. “The 25 recipient charities are invaluable to the Palm Springs community, so extending the holiday spirit of giving to these nonprofit organizations is really a special treat.”

Charities bebefiting from the shows include ACT for MS, Angel View Crippled Children’s Foundation, Animal Samaritans, Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS of the Desert), Boys & Girls Club of the Coachella Valley, Desert AIDS Project, Desert Arc, Desert Samaritans for the Elderly, Desert Paws, FIND Food Bank, Inc., Gilda’s Club Desert Cities California, Guide Dogs of the Desert, Healthy Family Foundation: The Ophelia Project, Joslyn Senior Center, Mourning Star Center, Olive Crest, One Heartland, Pegasus Riding Academy for the Handicapped, Shelter From The Storm, Stroke Recovery Center, Temple Isaiah Fund, The Living Desert, United Cerebral Palsy – Inland Empire, and Variety Club of the Desert.

Tickets will be available by clicking here from October 26. More information can be found here.

Hasselhoff’s New Wheels

Mon, 05 May 2008 11:42:45 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

David Hasselhoff, a long time supporter of UCP Wheels for Humanity, spoke once again at their annual fundraiser last month in California. A huge success, the event raised hundreds of thousands for the charity, which supplies wheelchairs for developing countries.

Inspired by his brothers’ distribution efforts of wheelchairs to individuals in Guatemala in the ‘80s, Wheels For Humanity founder David Richard started a home garage operation in ’96 restoring second hand wheelchairs for shipment to the needy. Wheels For Humanity quickly outgrew Richard’s garage, forcing him into various storage facilities until he partnered, just over a year ago, with United Cerebral Palsy of Los Angeles, Ventura & Santa Barbara Counties, enabling the newly formed UCP Wheels For Humanity to provide even more disabled with mobility.

Denny Richard, a brother of David’s, once told him, “You can’t just collect wheelchairs, you have to go on a delivery. It will change your life.” In fact, it did – it has also changed the lives of over 40,000 others who have received his gift.

So many people in developing countries, crippled from disease, war and natural disaster, are forced either to crawl the streets or remain confined. Over the past 10 years, thousands who couldn’t walk now have the freedom of movement thanks to UCP Wheels. But this charity took it one step further. Beyond refurbishing and shipping the wheelchairs, seating specialists also go along to custom-fit each recipient to the chair.

David Richard says, “For me, there is no greater joy than fitting a child or adult with a disability into a wheelchair. It is my life’s work; it is my passion – the look in their eyes, the smiles, the tears of joy.”

Look To The Stars News: United Cerebral Palsy

Barry Manilow To Play Concerts For 25 Charities

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