Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Singing Men’s concert benefits Habitat group
CAVE SPRINGS — The Singing Men of Arkansas have performed throughout the world, benefiting nonprofit organizations wherever they’ve gone.
So it’s really saying something when the director of the Singing Men, Mike Bedford of Cave Springs, says he’s “very honored” about the group’s concert to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Benton County Inc.
The concert will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Arend Arts Center in Bentonville. Bedford says the performance will include pop, patriotic and gospel music. Tickets are $20 and $30. “I think [Habitat] is one of the greatest nonprofits we have in Northwest Arkansas,” Bedford says. “I’m grateful for this association with them.
“We’re very honored to present this concert. It’s going to be fantastic; people will hear us sing music they’ve not heard us sing before.”
The choral group, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was founded by Bedford and the late Will Pruett in 2007. The group’s inaugural performance was in February 2008 in Springdale. It has, on average, 60 to 70 members, men from all walks of life who audition to be a part of the choir.
Since their founding, the Singing Men have primarily sung in Northwest Arkansas, often benefiting a nonprofit organization (or singing the national anthem before a sports event). But they’ve also taken their talents out of state and abroad.
Bedford says his goal is for the group to go on a big tour every other year. In 2010, the group had seven performances in Ireland to
benefit hospices. Two years later, they sang in Key West, Fla., and the Bahamas on consecutive days.
In 2011, they performed three concerts at prisons in Oklahoma. They will make another prison tour in May, this time in Arkansas.
“We have purposed to bring great music into the area,” Bedford says. “I think there’s nothing like a men’s chorus. When men are singing and singing well, people stop in their tracks to hear them sing.”
Although his group has not performed on behalf of Habitat for Humanity of Benton County before, Bedford says he has long admired the work done by the organization.
Formed in 2000 by the merger of the Rogers/Lowell Habitat for Humanity and the Sugar Creek (Bentonville School District) Habitat for Humanity, Habitat of Benton County has completed 68 homes, housing 180 people. Habitat strives to eliminate poverty housing in Benton County by building affordable housing for individuals who are willing to participate in the construction process and pay an interest-free 20- to 25-year mortgage.
Among other requirements, qualified applicants must have a steady income and be willing to put in 400 “sweat equity” hours, in addition to a $600 down payment.
“We like to get involved in charities that are not just handing out money, but improving people’s lives,” Bedford says. “I like that when Habitat helps a family, they get in there and are required to work on that property that one day will be theirs. They just have skin in the game. They don’t pay near what it’s worth but continue to make payments until it’s paid for.”
The local Habitat chapter has five house projects planned for 2013, either new construction or refurbishments. They are in Pea Ridge, Rogers and Gravette plus a pair in Bentonville.
“[Executive director] Debbie Wieneke is a phenomenal lady who does an incredible job,” Bedford says. “[Having] become acquainted with the board, I can see why their organization is so effective. They’re innovative, they’re creative and they’re passionate about helping people.”
Tickets for the concert are available at Habitat’s ReStore office or itickets.com. For more information about Habitat for Humanity of Benton County, call (479) 2733638 or visit habitatbentoncounty.org.