Christmas is a week away and I’m not ready. In fact, I’m behind and it feels like I’ll never catch up and get out from under this huge to do list. People are stopping by, girlfriends want to meet up for coffee and I feel overwhelmed. And then I received a text from a wonderful friend “I’m in town – lets have breakfast” So, met with Mary Lynn Kelly – the fantastic Director of ReStore Arts (the charity Blues and Brews benefits) and suddenly I’m in the Christmas Spirit again and excited about what I can done for Blues. Let me tell you a bit about what she’s doing with this amazing organization for Northern Arizona.
I’m very protective of my Northern Arizona – I made sure their contract with us said that 75% of the money we raise stays up here. It may be a bit snobby, but I feel like Phoenix has all the big corporations, museums and most of state funding, and Northern Arizona gets the short end of the stick. Mary Lynn has graciously said yes to the terms and is making a huge difference. She’s been partnering with organizations and getting much needed instruments – and the Blues and Brews funding has stretched from Flagstaff all the way to Fort Defiance. She’s up here today to deliver an entire trailer full of instruments to the schools and to play Santa.
This has been my dream – to put on a great festival and make a difference in music education. Today I learned of a single mother with two children who love to play in the school band. They rent the instruments because it’s very expensive to buy, and her kids just wanted a clarinet and a flute for Christmas. Mary Lynn found the instruments – however they needed repairs. With her connections, she got them repaired, polished up, in cases and then put them into Santa bags and slyly handed them over to the teacher. As the teacher realized what they were – her eyes lit up and she knew that these children who loved music would have a special Christmas.
I’m wishing everyone a magical Christmas and hoping that whatever you’re wishing for, comes true. I’m going to be grateful for all the presents I need to wrap, grateful I get to spend the holiday with my family and especially grateful for the gift of meeting amazing people in this world that make dreams come true.
Debbi