‘United by Song’
United Way and Music P.E.I. new kick-off event
Islanders are invited to an evening of storytelling and music to kick-off the 2018 United Way of P.E.I. campaign. The United Way, with Holland College, will host United by Song hosted by Catherine MacLellan on Sept. 23. During the evening, four individuals impacted by the United Way of P.E.I. will share their stories with four local artists — Amanda Jackson Band, Kelley Mooney, Drea MacDonald and Andrew Waite — who will then use the stories as inspiration for songs they will write and perform during the show. “I’m so excited to be hosting United by Song and curious as to what stories will be told and what the songwriters will do with those stories; it’s quite an amazing process,” said MacLellan. The result will be a memorable, moving musical performance celebrating the resiliency of the human spirit and the power of community. “I was part of a similar show in Fredericton last year and being able to write a song based on someone’s life and then share it on stage for those people and the audience was so meaningful. “Many of the people chosen to share their stories are people that you might see every day and yet never know who they are or what challenges they may be facing — it really brings the community together,” MacLellan added. Currently, the United Way of P.E.I. is supporting 25 different programs and 19 charities in communities across the Island thanks to support received during the 2017 campaign. “In previous years we have celebrated the launch of our annual campaign with a kick-off luncheon,” said Andrea MacDonald, CEO of the United Way of P.E.I. “This year, with our campaign focused on lives changed and impact created, we are excited to try something new by bringing these stories to impact to life through the artists’ lyrics and music.” United by Song will take place at the Florence Simmons Performance Hall on Sunday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m. Tickets for the event are $23 and can be purchased at the Florence Simmons Box Office or online at bit.ly/unitedbysong. Guests that purchase six or more tickets will be entered in a draw for a $150 gift card to Red Isle Hospitality (Hunter’s, The Factory or John Brown Grill). Additional event details can be found online at www.peiunitedway.com/news.