Benefit aids children's choir
SANDPOINT — There aren’t many local events where you can listen to world-class music while contributing to the success of two communities on opposite ends of the world, but that’s exactly what the organizers of an upcoming fundraiser are hoping to accomplish.
After hosting four members of an African children’s choir when they toured the area last year, Sandpoint’s Jennifer Hepinstall knew she wanted to help the children share their unique experience with others. The youngsters, part of a Uganda-based group called Matsiko, spend part of each year traveling the United States, performing and raising money for a structure in their hometown that will house 250 orphaned children.
On Aug. 10, Hepinstall and others will host the Invest in Hope fundraiser at the Sandpoint Events Center to help the kids of Matsiko accomplish their goals. The event will feature a performance from the choir, a catered dinner and an array of silent auction items. Auction items include a flight over Sandpoint donated by Quest’s Paul Schaller, themed gift baskets — including a Clint Black basket with two Festival at Sandpoint tickets — local artwork by Catherine Earle, photography of Uganda by Jen Landis, a retreat at Talus Rock and landscape consulting.
Adding a unique twist to the old concept of auctioning off local bachelors, the fundraiser will auction 25 “guys in ties” who, instead of going on dates with auction winners, will donate their time to a number of local non-profit groups. The guys will paint a classroom and build shelves for Head Start, add baseboards to Kinderhaven, paint the Sandpoint Senior Center and do landscaping and construction work for Habitat for Humanity, among other tasks.
Hepinstall said the fundraiser will be a fun, exciting event that will help improve the lives of countless people in both Africa and locally.
“We’re investing in hope,” she said. “That’s a big thing. Let’s invest in hope. Hope in our own community and hope in Uganda.”
The 25 children in Matsiko will sing traditional African music, play drums, dance and tell stories about their lives during the show, and Hepinstall said the performance should not be missed. Even after living through tremendous hardships, Hepinstall said the children are incredibly optimistic and happy.
“These kids just changed my heart,” she said. “They have seen incredible suffering in their young lives, but I have never in my life been in the presence of more joyful, gracious people.”
What started as a small idea meant to help a group of children soon turned into an large event with thousands of dollars of items being auctioned, which Hepinstall said shows the true spirit of area residents.
“I’m just totally grateful for Sandpoint,” she said. “It’s an incredible community and I’m really impressed that we’re coming together for our own community, but we’re also coming together for global needs. It says a lot the people that live here.”
Tickets are $25 and are available at the offices of Cedar Hills and First Christian churches, online at sandpointonline.com and at the door on the night of the fundraiser.
For information about the event or to sign up to be part of the “guys in ties” benefit, call 265-5112. To learn more about Matsiko, visit ICNChildren.net.