ALABAMA HIGH SCHOOL BAND MARKED TORNADO ANNIVERSARY WITH A ‘THANK YOU’ CONCERT
Washington, D.C., April 13, 2012— Deadly tornadoes, last April, may have turned its trophy-filled band room into wreckage and destroyed most of the instruments, but for the Phil Campbell High School band, the music never stopped. On the eve of the one-year anniversary of the devastating storms, the band hosted a concert on March 17 at the Regency Square Mall in Florence, Ala., to express its gratitude for the outpouring of support it received throughout the year.
Save the Children’s post-tornado relief efforts in Alabama
Members of the Phil Campbell High School Band perform during the “Thank You” concert
The Giving Thanks concert paid homage to the power of music to lift the students’ spirits in the face of tragedy and loss, the resilience of the Phil Campbell community, and the kindness of individuals and organizations whose contributions made it all possible.
At this first public appearance since the storms, the students debuted new instruments purchased with a generous Warner Music donation arranged through Save the Children. In addition, Save the Children awarded $12,000 of relief funds to Phil Campbell High School and Elementary School, including $2,000 for the replacement of the band’s destroyed uniforms and shoes.
“My students and I can’t thank Warner Music and Save the Children enough,” said the band’s director, Bobby Patrick. “The grants allowed us to have a concert season and helped restore some of the normalcy for these students.”
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Since the initial days after the deadly tornadoes of last spring, Save the Children’s U.S. Programs has dedicated more than $780,000 to disaster response and recovery efforts in the state, working closely with communities across northern Alabama to meet children’s needs and help families cope with the stress, loss, fear and grief that follow in the wake of such disasters. “Thousands of kids affected by the Southeast tornadoes witnessed the funerals of neighbors, teachers and, in some cases, parents and other loved ones,” said Mark Shriver, Senior Vice President for Save the Children’s U.S. Programs. “As much as we need states and first responders to better protect children and families before and during disasters, emotional and
psychological support is just as important in the aftermath.”
In its continued effort toward recovery, Save the Children has granted $174,000 to the Tuscaloosa City School District and $39,000 to the University of
Alabama Child Development Resource Center to provide the signature “Journey of Hope” emotional recovery program to 4,000 children and adult caregivers throughout the region.
Working with children in Alabama since 2005, Save the Children has partnered with schools in Clarke, Escambia, Wilcox and Washington counties to provide early childhood development programs for children from birth to age five, and literacy, nutrition and physical activity programs for children from kindergarten through sixth grade.
About Save the Children
Save the Children works to break the cycle of poverty and improve the lives of children by ensuring they have the resources they need—access to a quality education, healthy foods and opportunities to grow and develop in a nurturing environment. When disasters like hurricanes and wildfires strike, Save the Children is among the first on the ground ensuring the needs of children are being met.
Save the Children’s early childhood education, literacy, physical activity and nutrition, and emergency response programs reached more than 147,000 children and families in the United States last year alone. For more information, visit
www.savethechildren.org/usa.
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