Voices of Hope

Last Friday, Eastview High School hosted a music-oriented event called "Voices of Hope". This wasn't any ordinary talent show, however. An idea that was proposed by the school's women's chorale, the Voices of Hope Sing-a-Thon will benefit the Angel Foundation. This non-profit organization provides financial assistance for cancer patients, as well as their families.

Under the direction of Judy Sagen, the charitable event has a goal of $25,000. This amount should be achieved in many ways, including performance fees, sponsorship and ticket sales. There will be many performances and expressions of creativity all striving towards one single goal.

The event aired from 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM, with a constant rotation of music-oriented acts performing to show support. Even some of Eastview's own classes participated, with a cultural segment that included Spanish, Japanese and German singing done by their respective classes. It was an example of how this resonated not only through the halls of the school, but also the hearts of its students and teachers.

"It was something I thorougly enjoyed", Men's Chorale member Jack Jacobson says. Jacobson genuinely saw the service he had participated in, as well as the other students. The wide range of talent also provided a much needed entertaining relief from the school day. The twenty-hour show didn't raise the sought-after goal, but it did make quite an amount. Guests like Miss Twin Cities also showed his surprising influence over the Metro area.

The variety of acts that came to support the foundation was astounding. Singing acts (which included the Women's Chorale), bands, dancing, the list goes on. "It was a great way to support such a giving foundation", says Kelsey Roybal, a member of the Women's Chorale. "I loved its display of creativity as well as the message it sends to our students", she adds.

Voices of Hope brought in a great amount of students, as well as support. The difference between this and the usual run-of-the-mill charitable talent shows is its unusually sympathetic student support system. Some of these talented young men and women put their studies to the side to support such a fantastic charity. Out of all of the cancer patients suffering as we speak, just hearing the news of this event can give them hope of a brighter day - not only with their condition, but the moral gratitude of a country during a dark time. The Angel Foundation and its patients show much gratitude towards Eastview's event, and it is an act of kindness we hope to see repeated in the future.