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The Westerly Sun - Arts and Entertainment
LUNCH Scores Chapin Award
Mystic's LUNCH Ensemble travels to the Big Apple for award
MYSTIC - The Local United Network to Combat Hunger (LUNCH) has been
recognized for innovative grassroots solutions to fighting hunger from World
Hunger Year (WHY), an international hunger-fighting organization
co-founded by singer and songwriter Harry Chapin in 1975.
LUNCH was recognized at a concert featuring members of Harry Chapin’s family at
the Hard Rock Café in New York City on Sunday, December 11, 2005. At the
concert, celebrating WHY’s 30th anniversary, LUNCH founder and executive
director Bill Pere presented WHY with a check for $1,000 for the 16th
consecutive year. The money was raised through concerts put on throughout
Connecticut and Rhode Island by the LUNCH Ensemble including two at Dunns
Corners Church in Westerly.
WHY invited the LUNCH Ensemble to attend the concert, and nine
“veteran” Ensemble members joined Bill Pere and his wife, Kay, for a day in New
York City, highlighted by the concert, which featured members of Harry Chapin's
family including his daughter Jen, his brothers Tom and Steve, and Tom's
daughters Abigail, Lily, and Jessica (known as "The Chapin Sisters"). Also
performing were original Harry Chapin band members Howard Fields and "Big" John
Wallace, and special guest Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, of the legendary hip-hop
group "Run-DMC." With Sarah McLachlan, McDaniels recently recorded "Just Like
Me," which tells his own personal story of adoption and features the chorus from
Chapin's "Cat's in the Cradle."
“I saw this as a very rare opportunity for the LUNCH participants to actually
get to see the original creators of the songs they have been singing all these
years, and thus gain a new perspective on the music we do,” said Bill Pere. “We
have so many kids and parents who have given so much that it was an exceptional
opportunity to show them that their contributions of time and talent really are
appreciated not only in Connecticut, but beyond our borders, and by the Chapin
family.”
Representing LUNCH were Bill and Kay Pere, Chelsea Bateman, Anna Buehler,
Katie Castagno, Stephanie Leach, Rosemary Ostfeld, Samantha Schaufler, Stefanie
Schaufler, Rachelle Seney, and Kat Wyand. All agreed the show was “awesome” with
three generations of Chapins participating. "This is the kind of event Harry
would have loved,” said Grammy-award winner Tom Chapin. “With music and stories
shared and sung by close friends and family, with the proceeds going to help
those in need.”
About LUNCH: The Local United Network to Combat Hunger (LUNCH) was
founded in 1989 by Bill Pere and has raised more than $500,000 to support
community outreach agencies and programs. The LUNCH Ensemble (www.lunchensemble.com)
includes more than 40 young people from throughout Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Some 2,000 youths have participated over the years and they see first hand that
they can make a difference in other people’s lives. For more information on
LUNCH, contact Bill Pere at
info@lunchensemble.com .
Originally Published December 20 2005, The Westerly Sun |
