Benefiting The World: Reggae, Refreshments, Restoration Highlight Fundraiser
Last updated Saturday, November 24, 2007 10:09 PM CST in Our Town
By Sara Sullivan
THE MORNING NEWS
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FAYETTEVILLE -- Colorful scarves, chunky beaded necklaces and wild print dresses and tops converged at George's Majestic Lounge on Nov. 17 for Restore Humanity's benefit concert and silent auction.
Patrons munched on appetizers from Bordinos and perused an array of silent auction items, like a basket of various scotches, paintings, a purse and a John Coltrane CD set.
Also for sale were jewelry and cloth items brought back from Kenya by Sarah Fennel, founder of Restore Humanity, when she returned from spending the month of September there.
About $15,000 was raised at the benefit, Fennel said, which was nearly $4,000 more than last year's event. The money will go toward funding a $50,000 renovation for an orphanage in Kenya. The building and land were donated by a Kenyan family with whom Fennel has been friends for many years, and the money needed will renovate the existing building, add more space, furnish it and keep it running for two months, Fennel said. The orphanage would be home to about 25 kids, many of whom have been orphaned by AIDS, she said, and it would provide outreach for many more.
"We have an opportunity to directly support and uplift these children across the globe," Fennel said to the benefit attendees. "You guys will be forever connected to this village in Kenya."
"Fayetteville is a city that wants to see progress and change," said Anita Sills, family friend of the Fennels and supporter of Restore Humanity. "We're just glad that they're bringing awareness to the problem." It didn't hurt that supporting a good cause came with good food and music, she and her friends agreed.
The concert portion of the evening was started off by Dennis Collins, followed by a few songs performed by Rochelle Bradshaw, a native Jamaican now residing in Northwest Arkansas, and headlined by Joseph Israel and the Jerusalem Band.
Joseph Israel, Sarah Fennel's brother, is a great musician to complement the benefit because their messages are very similar, she said. "It's very in sync," she said.
"Rise up," Israel sang. "This is the time... love your brothers and your sisters everyday."
The benefit is a way to bring people into the work being done by Restore Humanity and to make everyone stop and think, said Jeanie Clinehens, mother of Kimberly who is working at Restore Humanity alongside Fennel. "Sometimes you realize that giving is the best thing in life," she said. "They're really just drawing us into their effort to reach out and help people who can't help themselves."
Fennel announced another upcoming promotion, a free event on World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, at Mount Sequoyah Conference and Retreat Center. All day long, the Ten Thousand Villages fair trade store will be contributing 10 percent of its sales to Restore Humanity. That evening starting at 5:30 there will be local music, refreshments, an African dance group called Afrique Aya and an art exhibit by Fayetteville High School to promote awareness of World AIDS Day, Fennel said.
"People gather on Dec. 1 all over the world," she said. "I think it's an important thing for Fayetteville to do." After all, she said, the first step to action is awareness.
The benefit was a great success, and Fennel was pleased with the turnout, she said. "I feel like the people here are really here to help," she said at the event.
Heads bobbed and hips swayed in time as minds, hearts and wallets, were opened to a community across the globe.
"You should know by now," sang Bradshaw in a powerful voice, "Every man on this land is our brother."
Benefit Bits
The second annual Restore Humanity benefit on Nov. 17 featured a concert by Joseph Israel, catering by Bordinos and a silent auction.
$15,000 was raised for an orphanage in Kenya.
Web site: restorehumanity.org
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