EVERETT, WA- December 8, 2006 -- The Catholic rock groups “RISE” and “Heaven by Northwest” along with Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Perpetual Help churches in Everett, Washington announced today a benefit concert and auction. The concert, “A Concert for Africa: For the Love of His People”, will benefit Africa and the country of Malawi in particular and raise funds for migrant families living in the local community. The concert will feature music by Rise, America’s hottest Catholic rock group, along with Heaven by Northwest, and the Marysville Marimba Ensemble. The event will help raise funds for and awareness of the extreme poverty and disease ravaging Africa. The concert will be held at Msgr. Mattie Hall in Everett on Friday, February 23rd at 7:00 p.m.
Africa has been hit by a crisis of biblical proportions. For example, the United Nations notes that the AIDS crisis is the, “worst infectious disease catastrophe since the bubonic plague.”[1]Malawi has repeatedly been hit by severe famines. In 2005, the United Nations estimated over 4 million people faced starvationif nothing was done. In addition, in Malawi[2]:
·Life expectancy is less than 37 years and over 14% of the population is HIV positive. There are more than 1 million orphaned children.
·Malawi is one of the world's 10 poorest countries; two-thirds of the population live on less than a dollar a day;
The concert also seeks to raise awareness and support for those migrant families, especially African migrants, currently living in our community with little or no means of support. Many find themselves stranded as “strangers in a foreign land” (Heb 13:2).
About Rise
Rise is a Catholic rock band playing original music from Southern California. Rise was founded in 2000, the year that two band members were welcomed into the Catholic Church. A unique blend of 80’s big hair band rockers, now a cop, a general contractor, a sales manager and a CEO of a tech company.
Rise is:
Steve Rogers Lead vocals and acoustic guitar
Jorge Ramirez Bass guitar and vocals
Mike Beloud Lead guitar and vocals
Mike Partain Drums
About Heaven by Northwest
Originating from Everett, Washington in the greater Seattle area, Heaven by Northwest plays energetic Contemporary Christian pop and rock.
Heaven by Northwest is:
Carlene Oyetuga Vocals
Chris Hartzog Bass guitar
Dan Vincelette Lead guitar
Dave Pelton Keyboard and vocals
Mark Colombo Drums
irections and Contact Information:
Friday, February 23, 2007
7:00 pm (doors open at 6:00)
Monsignor Mattie Hall
Immaculate Conception Church
2517 Hoyt Avenue
Everett, WA 98201
Telephone: 425.349.7014
Suggested minimum donation $10
Tickets available at the door
[1]HIV /AIDS as a Security Issue, ICG (International Crisis Group ) Report Washington/Brussels, 19 June 2001
[2]"Malawi," in Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia; (Wikimedia Foundation Inc., updated 20 November 2006, 16:41 UTC) [encyclopedia on-line]; available from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malawi; Internet; retrieved 20 November 2006.
