Michael Allen Harrison & Kathy Fahlman Dewalt
"Ten Grands & the Snowman Foundation"
Michael Allen Harrison:Michael is a composer, producer, contemporary-classical recording artist and Founder of Ten Grands and the Snowman Foundation. Ten Grands (ten pianists/ten pianos on one stage) has been electriying audiences in Portland for the past 7 years and has raised over 2 million for "at risk" and underpriviledged students; ensuring music education to all through out the state of Oregon.
Michael's music is intensely personal and universal, it finds a place in our deepest emotion. He is recognized as Steinway's Signature Artist and has developed a stylistically multifaceted pianist, playing classical, new age/world and contemporary jazz.
He has released more than 40 Cd's. His songs have touched the sky and circled the earth, as they have been played on the space shuttles Endeavor and Discovery. H has performed for President Clinton, V.P. Al Gore, Quincy Jones, Walter Cronkite, Margaret Thatcher, Colin Powell and the Dalai Lama. Michael has also performed for at the United Nations in New York City premiering his tribute song...Remembrance for the 50th anniversary of Israel's independence in 1998 among playing around the world at many state affairs.
Michael Allen Harrison has become known as the Pied Piper of Music in Oregon and is now stretching his arms up to Seattle by debuting Ten Grands this May 17th at the Benaroya Hall, which will benefit kids in the state of Washington. He and nine other well known pianists will be performing classical, jazz, blues, pop, boogie woogie, new age and more. The ten pianos play individually and all together! It is an enchanting, inspirational, and extraordinary evening of superb musical talent!
Kathy Fahlman Dewalt:
Kathy Fahlman Dewalt believes that "life is a celebration and music is a celebration of life." She has taught private piano since she was 16, taught public school music since age 22, received her bachelor and masters degrees in music and music education. Kathy currently serves on the Washington Music Educator's Board with Gerald Schwartz. She has written several children's musical storybooks and wrote and created the #1 Children's Video between 1985-1995 titled WEE SING TOGETHER...selling over 4 million copies to date. She has worked with the Disney Channel, Price Stern Sloan, Universal Studios, Golden Books and Putnam. Kathy was selected as an Outstanding Teacher in the Issaquah School District last year. She is currently promoting and marketing Ten Grands (in partnership with PONCHO in Seattle) , which will be held May 17th at the Benaroya Hall.Kathy's passion about the need for all children to have music in their lives is unparalleled. Today Kathy will be talking about the importance of music education in all children's lives and the incredible support of Ten Grands through out the community!
Scott East
Photos by Marie Wick, courtesy of Susan Young
Susan Young is the first to come through with photos of one of the BRC Sun Valley 2008 events, dinner at Knob Hill Inn, following the Frank & Susan Young wine reception held Friday, January 31. A few of us were hanging on into the late evening, after the bustling restaurant started to clear.There were more cameras flashing at all the events and on the mountain, and more photos will be published as they arrive. Reports will also be published on all the other excellent events — Larry & Carol Mast's dinner, Debbie Acton's Super Bowl party, and powder snow galore each ski day!
Rotarians Take A (Healthy) Bite Out Of Hunger
By Maureen Vaught
Rotary International News - 5 February 2008
Waste Not, Want Not could be the motto of District 5030’s First Harvest project. The statewide program collects farmers’ surplus produce and makes it available to food banks throughout Washington, USA. Since 1982, more than 120 million pounds of fruits and vegetables have been contributed.With a staff of three and an annual budget of less than $300,000, First Harvest Executive Director David Bobanick works with food donors, trucking companies, and food bank distribution warehouses to bring nutritious produce to Washington’s hungry.
“We have to be opportunistic,” says the member of the Rotary Club of Mercer Island. “Food donations typically drive the process, but sometimes we hear of a truck that’s available, and our challenge becomes to find food to fill the truck.”
Food banks often cannot obtain or store fruits and vegetables, which are perishable and typically expensive. By rescuing produce that would otherwise go to waste, First Harvest allows the facilities to offer food that promotes health and helps prevent disease.
Rotary club involvement has been key to the program’s success, adds Bobanick. All 55 clubs in District 5030 provide financial support and have members on First Harvest’s board. Rotarian farmers, truckers, and food bank staff also donate their services to the project.
“I would like to see Rotarians around the country get involved in eliminating hunger,” Bobanick says. To that end, First Harvest has created a CD-ROM for Rotarians interested in starting similar efforts.
Clubs in Florida and Oregon already have launched First Harvest projects, and the participating Rotarians there are no less enthusiastic. “Hunger should not exist!” says Sharon Parks, a member of the Rotary Club of Klamath County, Oregon, and board president of the District 5110 (California; Oregon) First Harvest project. “I believe that through Rotary, hunger can be conquered.”
Learn how to start your own First Harvest project at www.firstharvest.org.
This article will appear in the 2008 April issue of Rotary World.
