Anointed Vessel Productions Inc

I served as a volunteer at the Ensuring Our Children’s Welfare Benefit Luncheon, hosted by Anointed Vessel Productions on 5/18/2013. This luncheon was in recognition of National Foster Care Month, honoring Foster Parents and Social Workers for Outstanding Community Service. The luncheon included short dramatic plays on foster care issues, a fashion show, music and dance all presented by the participants of Anointed Vessel Productions' 10-week after school performing arts program (Project Heartbeat).

My role was to solicit & coordinate donations for a Bake Sale and a Silent Auction. Several Community Members I approached, personally, responded with a contribution. Both, the Silent Auction & Bake Sale, generated additional funds for Project Heartbeat. Overall, I enjoyed my role in soliciting, collecting, and coordinating the donations for a luncheon that was fun, informative and served a great cause.

I enrolled my 16 yr old daughter, 15 yr old son, and 14 yr old granddaughter in Project Heartbeat, this organization's after school performing arts program--being a part of Project Heartbeat was a great experience for each of them. my 16 yr old loves theatre and was able to gain experience in acting, she developed more confidence for public speaking and she gained increased leadership skills. My 15 yr old son is good at drawing but he was very shy. After participating in Project Heartbeat he has become more outgoing and his additional role of drawing the set design for construction in the program helped his drawing skills advance to computer graphic arts. My 14 yr old granddaughter was also very shy and withdrawn, but participating in this program raised her confidence levels and now her classmates look up to her.

It is a fact that at most schools, the performing arts programs are being cut, therefore this Heartbeat program is a blessing for parents like me who want their youth to learn new skills but might not have the means to do it. I wish there was a possibility to keep this program year round, and in different areas to benefit more children. With more programs like this, we will be able to keep our children off the streets and more involved in their communities.