Archive for the ‘Good causes’ Category

Willie Nelson concert to help failed bank victims (8/19/1988)

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

August 19, 1988

Waco (AP) — A Willie Nelson concert to benefit the depositors of a failed bank is back on track and scheduled for another coliseum, after the Baylor University president canceled the original show.

Plans for the singer to perform at the Ferrell Special Events Center were abandoned after Baylor University President Herbert Reynolds, citing “concern for the health and well-being of the American people,” canceled the program.

But concert promoter Tom Gresham of Austin said Wednesday that Nelson authorized him to proceed with plans for a concert at the heart O’ Texas Coliseum to benefit the depositors of the failed Leroy Bank, a private bank northeast of Waco.

Some of the 600 depositors who lost their savings at the bank responded happily Wednesday after hearing the news.

“Knowing Willie like we do and him being a local person, we though he’d find anothe rplace to have his concert,” said Otis Richardson.  “He’s a kindhearted fellow, not a greedy man.”

Nelson grew up in Abbott.  Gresham estimates the concert could raise $35,000 for the depositors.

The show is scheduled for Nov. 14.

Join Paula Nelson & Friends @ Saxon Pub, for event in support of Luther Edmonson (4/11/2010)

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010


Win a guitar signed by Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and others

Hello Friends and Family!!

I am inviting you all to the this wonderful up and coming event at The Saxon Pub on Sunday, April 11th, 2010.  Luther Edmonson is a dear friend of mine and many of you as well. Luther has literally supported me along with many other Austin musicians for many years.  He and his wife Tomilee own a pet grooming shop in North Austin called “Luther’s Grooming”. He is also very loved by his furry clients and their owners too!!

Recently Luther has had some medical issues that have forced him to put aside his 49-year-old passion for grooming.  As you can imagine he is deeply saddened by this.  And as we all know, the world of medicine has a way of sucking every bit of money from your pocket book. 

And in support of Luther, on April 11, 2010, we  are having a benefit for our dear friend to help him with his medical bills – as well as throw him a belated birthday party!!

Please join us in the celebration from 2-5pm at the Saxon Pub (www.theSaxonPub.com) on April 11, 2010

Artists include

Paula Nelson and the Guilty Pleasures
 Waylon Payne
 McLemore Avenue
Carolyn Wonderland
And you never know who else might surprise us with a visit! 

There will be an auction to help raise funds at the event.  Auction items will include a guitar signed by Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and many more.   Also a personally recorded outgoing message by Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson as well as all of the artists on the show. 

The Saxon now has Pub Grub on the new patio. Great burgers and more!! What better place to spend your Sunday than at the Saxon Pub with such wonderful folks for such a wonderful cause!! 

Thank you sincerely,

Paula Nelson

Willie Nelson sings, “This Land is Your Land,” with John McCutcheon on children’s album

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

Willie Nelson joins Faith Hill, Brenda Lee and other’s and contributes to new children’s album, “Love & Peace — Greatest Hits for Kids.”  The album seeks to introduce young music listeners to classic, inspiring songs by a variety of artists.  And of course, the rest of us can enjoy it, too.

 Willie Nelson sings Woody Guthrie’s classic, ‘This Land is Your Land’ with John McCutcheon and friends on the album.   Faith Hills sings with one of her daughters on , ‘Before you Grow.’ Also featured on the album are Brenda Lee, Linda Ronstadt with Andrew Gold, Taj Mahal, Sheila E, and more.  The album is in stores now, and on-line.

“Love & Peace – Greatest Hits For Kids” Track List

1. “Baby Beluga” by Raffi
2. “On The Good Ship Lollipop” by Maria Muldaur
3. “Choo Choo Boogaloo” by Buckwheat Zydeco
4. “La Bamba” by Los Lobos
5. “Grandma’s Feather Bed” by Brenda Lee
6. “I Love My Shirt” by Donovan
7. “If I Had A Hammer” by Brian Johnson of AC/DC
8. “Teddy Bears’ Picnic” by The Persuasions
9. “I Really Love To Dance” by Laurie Berkner
10. “The Monster Mash” by Andrew Gold & Linda Ronstadt
11. “Banana Boat Song” by Taj Mahal
12. “Juba Dis And Juba Dat” by Sheila E
13. “This Land Is Your Land” by Willie Nelson, John McCutcheon & Friends
14. “Before You Grow” by Faith Hill
15. “Apple Blossom Fairies” by MFLP Players
16. “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Willie Nelson rescues more horses at his Austin, Texas ranch

Saturday, March 6th, 2010

Willie Nelson serves on the Board of Directors of Habitat for Horses, and has also rescued many horses, that now live on his Texas ranch.  Habitat for Horses is the largest all-breed equine protection organization in the United States.   A nonprofit registered in Texas, Habitat for Horses assist law enforcement with education and investigation of equine abuse and neglect, and offers rehabilitation and adoption to over 300 horses each year through its network of foster homes. For more information, contact Habitat for Horses at (866) 434-5737 or visit www.habitatforhorses.org

OnFebruary 23, 2010, Jason Meduna was sentenced on 145 counts of felony animal cruelty charges and placed behind bars.  One week later, six of the survivors from the 3-Strikes killing fields were finally placed in their forever homes at the ranch of country music icon Willie Nelson.

For the past 11 months, volunteers and staff of Habitat for Horses have been daily tending to the needs of six wild horses wrenched from the clutches of convicted animal abuser Jason Meduna. 

“Equine rehabilitation is a difficult and delicate operation, especially with horses that were as far gone as these guys were.” stated Jerry Finch founder and President of Habitat for Horses during a recent interview.  “These horses responded well and continue to flourish with each passing day.”

 Jerry was the lead investigator into the 3-Strikes disaster last April.  It was Mr. Finch who hired a plane and along with the local Sheriff flew over Meduna’s parched and overgrazed land to witness a sight that will be difficult for both of them to shake.


Rebecca Williams, of Habitat for Horses and Voodoo before his trip to Willie Nelson’s Texas ranch

One of the rehabilitated mustangs that made the trip to Willie’s ranch from Habitat for Horses was a black and white spotted mustang named Voodoo.  Jerry refers to him as the “last horse standing”.

“As we flew over the sand hills I looked down to see a singular horse, standing on a bluff that over looked a pile of bodies and that horse was looking straight up at us.  Horses don’t usually look up but this one not only looked at us but he looked right through me.  It was unnerving but he motivated me to act.  He almost didn’t make it into the trailer to safety he was so bad off.”  Jerry remembers, “We had a connection and that’s why it was so very special to let him out of the trailer at Willie’s knowing that he will be able to live out his life as he was meant to, wild and free”

Willie Nelson sits on the Board of Directors of Habitat for Horses and has, to date, adopted 71 horses that run free and enjoy just being horses on his spacious ranch outside of Austin, Texas. 

Willie’s herd is well cared for by a knowledgeable staff of professionals who have also rehabilitated abused and neglected horses that have come directly from a Habitat for Horses rescue operation.  Willie and his daughter Amy are outspoken advocates for the cessation of horse slaughter in the U.S. and the end to the Bureau of Land Management’s managed extinction of America’s wild horses on public lands.

Amy Nelson, with a rescued horse.

See Willie Nelson in ‘One Peace at a Time’, and meet Director/Producer Turk Pipkin at showing in Portland, Oregon (3/2/2010)

Monday, March 1st, 2010


www.nobelity.org

Please join the Nobelity Project, Architecture for Humanity and ONE.org for a truly great night in Portland. 

On Wed, March 3 director Turk Pipkin will host a benefit screening of his documentary One Peace at a Time at the Hollywood Theatre.

Filmed in 20 countries on 5 continents, One Peace at a Time is an inspiring look at the possibility of providing basic rights – water, food, healthcare, education and more – to every child. The film features Willie Nelson, Secretary of Energy Steve Chu, Muhammad Yunus, Architecture for Humanity founder Cameron Sinclair and many others.

Proceeds benefit Architecture for Humanity’s Haiti Reconstruction Fund and The Nobelity Project’s work to build Mahiga Hope High School in Kenya. Wed, March 3  7:30 p.m.

Q & A and reception with the director after the film
Hollywood Theatre
4122 NE Sandy Blvd.

Special Benefit Tickets: $20 at Hollywood Theatre/One Peace Ticket Link

*** One Peace at a Time continues – 5 screenings per day -  March 5 – 11 at the Hollywood Theatre, with Turk Pipkin also hosting the opening night screening on Friday, March 5.

*** Free Tickets for Teachers – The Nobelity Project will fund free tix for teachers on Friday/Saturday/Sunday (please bring teacher I.D. to the box office.

One Peace at a Time has played across the country and around the world. The film’s soundtrack includes music by Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan, Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, The Band, Bob Schneider and more! Thanks to Portland supporters: Nike, Architecture for Humanity Portland, ONE.org, Portland Family Magazine and Goodness Magazine. Special thanks to Portland’s Lynn Bradach for her powerful message in the film. There is a better way!

Willie Nelson joined Turk for a psa about an Austin, Texas showing of the film last year:

Turk Pipkin’s ‘One Peace at a Time’ showing to benefit Haiti (2/17/2010)

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010


www.nobelity.org

www.pegasusnews.com
by John P. Meyer

Award-winning documentary One Peace at a Time will make its North Texas premiere at the Studio Movie Grill in Dallas on Wednesday night (doors: 6:30). The event is being co-hosted by Architecture for Humanity of Dallas/Fort Worth, and 100% of the proceeds will go to fund their long-term reconstruction effort in Haiti.

Director Turk Pipkin will be on hand to introduce the film, and will stick around afterwards to host a Q&A session. Tickets are $10 at the door, or you can order online through Eventbrite.

The film won the World Cinema Documentary Audience Award at the Maui Film Festival; it also screened at the World Economic Forum in Geneva, and has been named an official selection of film festivals around the world.

The film follows director Turk Pipkin’s five-continent, two-year search for a better way ahead. Pipkin sought the answer to one basic question: Can we provide basic rights – water, nutrition, education, healthcare and a sustainable and peaceful environment – to every child on earth? The solutions Pipkin chronicles include Ethiopian water projects with A Glimmer of Hope, the model Indian orphanages of The Miracle Foundation, sustainable design with Architecture for Humanity, and others.

The film includes the insights of Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Physicist Steven Chu, (Barack Obama’s Secretary of Energy), Dr. Helene Gayle (CEO of CARE, International), Cameron Sinclair (Co-Founder of Architecture for Humanity), American legend Willie Nelson, and many others.

www.nobelity.org

Willie Nelson Autographed Signed Custom Airbrush Guitar at Auction, to benefit firefighters

Sunday, February 14th, 2010

Starting bid:  $1238.65 

To bid on the guitar:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Willie-Nelson-Autographed-Signed-Custom-Airbrush-Guitar_W0QQitemZ260547439428QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3ca9d66b44

100% of the final sale price will support United Firefighters of America

About this nonprofit:

Mission Statement Our mission is to help Volunteer Fire Departments get the equipment they need by finding good used equipment for them and/or raising funds to offer them grants. This will allow them to save more lives and property; and to do it safer.

Willie Nelson endorses Roger Crowe for Briarcliff Alderman “Keep Briarcliff Country”

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010


Roger Crowe and David Anderson
Photo by David Von Roehm, Luck Films

 http://rogercrowe.com/Support.html

Today Briarcliff, Texas resident Roger Crowe announced his bid for Briarcliff Alderman.  The 40-year old candidate hopes his efforts as Alderman will “Keep Briarcliff Country”.  His platform is to get everyone involved in public meetings through the use of technology.  

Roger announced, “Alot of working mothers and fathers are just too exhausted to attend public meetings after commuting back and forth to the city for work, while many others travel for a living and also some older residents aren’t able to participate because of health or disablity.” Roger went on to explain, “ My hopes are that soon everyone will have access via the internet to view all public proceedings.”

Speaking to members of the press; “Too long the fate of fellow property owners has been by unanimous application or by some unknown proclamations that are passed without the knowledge or approval of the majority of residents,”  Roger Crowe stated, ” Until now!  I am here to Keep Briarcliff Country and to give a voice back to the property owners.”

Crowe applied today at the Village of Briarcliff City Hall and was sworn in by the clerk upon presenting his application. The election is set for May 8th. Early Voting begins April 26th through May 4th.

http://rogercrowe.com/

President Jimmy Carter and Habitat for Humanity, in Haiti

Sunday, February 7th, 2010

www.habitat.org

Singing for a good cause

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

 
www.FarmAid.org

by Mike Devlin
www.vancouversun.com

Mother Nature has a cruel way of reminding us that musicians really do matter.

When there’s an international tragedy, all manner of people in the public eye — actors, news anchors, politicians — do what they can, sometimes out of the spotlight. But for decades, the long road out of hell, be it 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina, has been the home turf of musicians.

Friday’s star-studded Hope for Haiti and Canada for Haiti concerts proved as much. Let us not forget regular folks, who ponied up a reported $61 million US (for the U.S. telecast) and $17 million (for the Canadian telethon) for the cause. Without them, these events simply don’t happen.

But the money raised had plenty to do with the stars on screen, who forced us to tune in and urged us to donate.

In celebration of others who have mined similar territory in the past — and that includes Mozart, who staged a benefit concert in 1785 — here’s a primer on some of the greatest benefit concerts in history.

Farm Aid (1985-present)

It’s hard not to like Farm Aid, on the basis of its board of directors alone (that would be Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews). The annual event, which benefits U.S. farmers and their families, was first staged in 1985 with an utterly astounding group of all-stars, from Bob Dylan to Loretta Lynn. It has gone dark only twice in the decades since, earning its reputation as one of the best in the benefit business.

Live Aid (1985)

For many, the most notable benefit concert of all-time is Live Aid, a one-day, two-city juggernaut broadcast live on television to an estimated worldwide audience of 400 million. Bob Geldof and Midge Ure created Live Aid to fight famine in Ethiopia, a cause that drew some heavy hitters from the wings, including Phil Collins (who appeared in both Philadelphia and London), Queen, U2, The Who, Madonna, a reunited Black Sabbath and the surviving members of Led Zeppelin. 

America: A Tribute to Heroes (2001)

Organized by George Clooney (who was also behind Hope for Haiti) just 10 days after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, A Tribute to Heroes was full of still-fresh anger and emotion. As a result, most of the musical selections performed during the telethon took on a solemn tone, including those by Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Willie Nelson and U2. 

Concert for Bangladesh (1971)

Ravi Shankar and George Harrison of the Beatles staged this concert for Bangladesh refugees, one of the first biggie benefit concerts to be expanded into a successful soundtrack and concert film. Spread over two concerts at Madison Square Garden, it featured performances by big-time acts of the era, including two Beatles (Harrison and Ringo Starr), two certified legends (Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan) and a host of others. It wasn’t a huge source of revenue, but the Concert for Bangladesh was an important first step in the history of all-star benefits. 

(more…)

Ron Blackwod and the Blackwood Quartet, and Stephen Girsh, at Willie’s Place

Monday, January 25th, 2010

Ron Blackwood and the Blackwood Quartet performed at Willie’s Place, Carl’s Corner, Texas last Sunday, January 24, 2009 — And Hillsboro’s own Stephen Girsh was their guest for the musical performance.  The concert was free, with an offering taken to benefit the Abbott Methodist Church and it’s scholarship program.

The quartet will perform again at Willie’s Place on January 31, 2010, and again it will be free, with an offering taken to benefit the Methodist Church of Abbott, Texas.

www.WilliesPlaceTheater.com

Best Friends Animal Society: Support for Animals in Haiti

Saturday, January 23rd, 2010

Text ‘SAVE’ to 90999 and a $10 donation will be added to your cell phone bill.

Everyone should continue to support the men, women and children of Haiti, who continue to suffer because of the recent earthquake.   I hope they receive all the help they need to survive and to rebuild their country. 

And people are not the only ones suffering in Haitti; here is some information on how you can support all the pets that are suffering, too.

After days of fact-finding and negotiating, an assessment team comprised of members from the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH) is entering Haiti this weekend. Best Friends Animal Society is part of the ARCH group, a collaboration of animal welfare organizations banded together to help animals at risk following the tragic Haitian earthquake, but will not be included in this initial assessment team.

The ARCH team has learned directly from veterinarians working in Haiti that there are an estimated 150,000 dogs in Port-au-Prince, dogs that are either pets or that roam freely in local communities. Once the ARCH team enters the country, animal rescue personnel will assess the situation and announce a comprehensive animal rescue plan as early as Monday, January 25. 

The coalition was co-founded by the World Society for the Protection of Animals and the International Fund for Animal Welfare. Key coalition members are Best Friends, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) the American Veterinary Medical Foundation, the American Humane Association, United Animal Nations, and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (United Kingdom).    

We at Best Friends thank our members for their donations and interest in our efforts to help with Haiti animal relief. All donations sent to Best Friends are put in a restricted fund that will be used solely for Haiti animal relief.  

To donate:
•   Text the word SAVE to 90999 to give $10
•   When prompted, reply with YES to confirm your one-time donation
•   The $10 one-time donation will appear on your next mobile phone bill
•   100 percent of your donation will go to Best Friends Animal Society to help Haiti’s animals.

http://network.bestfriends.org/groups/rapidresponse/default.aspx

Austin Concert to benefit Haiti

Saturday, January 23rd, 2010

 

Once again, artists from Austin, Texas are coming together to help raise funds for a good cause.  On January 24, 2010, a concert will be held at the Austin Music Hall to benefit the people of Haiti, through the fundraising efforts of Clinton-Bush fund and Oxfam.

To purchase tickets: 
http://www.gettix.net/concert/texas/?event_id=3201

amh

Scheduled To Play (so far)

Paula Nelson and the Guilty Pleasures
Asleep at the Wheel
Band of Heathens
Bob Schneider
Bruce Robison
Charlie Sexton
The Flatlanders
The Gourds
Guy Forsyth
Joe Ely Band
Kelly Willis
Kinky Friedman
Patricia Vonne
Ray Wylie Hubbard
Reckless Kelly
Robert Earl Keen
Shawn Colvin

Gospel Sunday at Willie’s Place Quartet, featuring Ron Blackwood and the Blackwood Quartet

Friday, January 22nd, 2010


http://www.williesplacetheater.com/

There will be no charge for admission to this show.  Willie’s Place Theater and Ron Blackwood and the Blackwood Quartet are kindly providing this show, with only a good-will offering asked, which will go to benefit the Abbott Methodist Church and it’s scholarship for local high school students. 

For information about Ron Blackwood and the Blackwood Quartet, their music and tour schedule, visit their website at:
http://www.blackwoodqt.com/

Speck Mellencamp is trying to get his dad to stop smoking

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

 

John Mellencamp’s son Speck made a deal with his dad:  John Mellencamp will quit smoking if Speck can get 1,000,000 to join his Facebook site.

To support Speck, join 

1,000,000 to join, my dad john mellencamp will quit smoking

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=202540109208&ref=nf&v=info


Speck Mellencamp