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It's Music To Samaritan's Ears

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By MEGAN HUSSEY

Tribune correspondent

Published: October 25, 2008

ZEPHYRHILLS - Continuing its tradition of community service through music, Artists for Humanity will present Benefit Concert for the Samaritan Project on Nov. 8 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Wesley Chapel.

For a $15 ticket, guests at the concert will enjoy classic numbers from productions such as "Phantom of the Opera" and "Les Miserables," in an elegant setting with gourmet desserts and coffees served on fine china and linen tablecloths. And it's all for a good cause.

This year's annual Artists for Humanity concert will benefit the Samaritan Project of Zephyrhills, a partnership of government, business and seven faith-based organizations with a goal to meet the individual needs of the Zephyrhills community. The project receives multiple inquiries daily for assistance.

"The Samaritan Project of Zephyrhills is a community outreach designed to offer occasional help to our neighbors whom have found themselves in temporary need," according to information provided by Jan Slater, executive director of the Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce.

"These needs are often due to mitigating circumstances such as temporary job loss, unexpected illness, disaster or unexpected expenses that have created a shortfall in the monthly budget. The vision of the Samaritan Project of Zephyrhills is to provide a single-source help site for individuals to access for assistance and/or guidance to assistance.

"The goal is resolution, and to provide help to resolve a temporary issue. Often individuals have issues that require longer term assistance and guidance. Our goal with them is to provide direction to the right resource most likely to be able to address the need.

"Immediate assistance is provided for food, transportation, utility bills, medical and housing when the funds are available."

Dolores Riego de Dios, founder and coordinator for Artists for Humanity, coordinated this concert at the request of the Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce and the Zephyrhills Ministerial Association.

"Since we do charitable events for worthwhile programs, we were asked to do a benefit for the Samaritan Project," Riego de Dios said. "I said we would love to help this program, to help the churches help others through this networking process."

For five years, Artists for Humanity has helped organizations that include Habitat For Humanity, Hernando-Pasco Hospice, homeless shelters and local cancer patients. The nonprofit group includes representatives of local arts groups such as the Heritage Arts Center Association, the Spanish Lyric Theater and the Tampa Opera Company.

Artists for Humanity members participating in this concert are Barbara Friedman, Rebecca Friedman-Groomes, David Groomes, Michael Pruitt, Melody Ossi, Sylvana Olding, Lin Grant and the Rev. Brad Stevens.

"These are all professional musicians," Riego de Dios said.

Aside from attending the Nov. 8 concert, people can support this Artists for Humanity effort by becoming an event underwriter; one can purchase a full-page program ad for $100, a half-page ad for $50 and a business card-sized ad for $25.

In her view, the upcoming Artists for Humanity show serves a dual purpose, in that it both benefits a worthwhile organization and provides quality, low-cost entertainment.

"Our ticket prices are inclusive," she said. "It's a nice evening."

ARTISTS FOR HUMANITY BENEFIT

SOME BACKGROUND: Artists for Humanity will present a benefit concert for the Samaritan Project at 7 p.m. Nov. 8 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 33543 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel.

Staged by local professional musicians, the concert will present classic numbers along with desserts and coffees.

COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS: This year's annual Artists for Humanity concert will benefit the Samaritan Project of Zephyrhills, a partnership of government, business and faith- based organizations that has helped community members in need of food, transportation, utility bills, medical and housing when funds are available.

A LITTLE HISTORY: Artists for Humanity has performed benefit concerts for five years in the Pasco area.

WHAT'S NEXT? Underwriters for the Benefit Concert for the Samaritan Project are Rozanne and Cary Ritter, representatives of Reliv Products; Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club; Scharber Flooring; Jim Brown Chrysler Dodge; San Antonio Rotary; and Zephyrhills Rotary.

GET INVOLVED: Tickets are $15 and are available at Trinity United Methodist Church, Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, 38550 Fifth Ave. in Zephyrhills, and from the Rev. Ken Mitchell at Chancey Road Christian Church, 34921 Chancey Road in Zephyrhills. For information, call (813) 782-1913; (813) 788-2898 or (352) 588-4058.

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