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Habitat's need strikes a chord

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By MEGAN HUSSEY

Tribune correspondent

Published: August 29, 2009

LAND O' LAKES - Five years ago, a group of classically trained, Pasco-based musicians came together to stage special benefit concerts for local philanthropic organizations. At the group's debut concert in 2005, it raised $5,000 for East Pasco Habitat for Humanity, which provides affordable housing for families in need.

Now, the group is coming home again. At 7:30 p.m. Sept. 11, Artists for Humanity will perform a "Music Is Love" concert at Myrtle Lake Baptist Church in Land O' Lakes. Once again, all proceeds will benefit East Pasco Habitat for Humanity, which has built more than 66 houses since 1994 in east Pasco County.

"Barbara Friedman, one of our members, proposed the concert because she heard about Habitat losing funding due to budget cuts," Artists for Humanity coordinator Dolores Riego de Dios said.

"These cuts hurt, making it hard for them to move forward. Habitat has suffered, and we want to make up a bit of the difference," she said.

"Music Is Love" will present a rich diversity of musical stylings, including jazz, musical comedy, Broadway, contemporary and classical. The tunes will be performed by seasoned professional musicians with backgrounds in opera companies and professional singing groups - many with a master's degree in music.

"We're all classically trained," Riego de Dios said. "We play music that will please audiences."

Artists Melody Ossi, soprano; Michael Pruitt, tenor; David Groomes, tenor; Bradley Stevens, accompanist; Elizabeth Graham and Melissa Misener, mezzo sopranos; Riego de Dios, soprano; and pianists Barbara Friedman and her daughter, Becky Groomes comprise Artists for Humanity, which in the past has performed benefit concerts for the Samaritan Project of Pasco, Hurricane Katrina survivors, HPH Hospice and other causes.

The group's efforts are much appreciated by Karen Streaker, development and public relations director of East Pasco Habitat for Humanity.

"Funding is at an all-time low for East Pasco Habitat, and the benefit concert will give us dollars to keep going with our building program," Streaker said. "The Artists for Humanity are very talented professionals, and we are very grateful to them for giving us another avenue of income. What a pleasant way to donate and help a family have a decent place to live."

Riego de Dios hopes to perform another successful concert on behalf of East Pasco Habitat for Humanity.

"We're helping Habitat because they're wonderful people," she said.

'MUSIC IS LOVE'

SOME BACKGROUND: Artists for Humanity will present a "Music Is Love" concert at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 11 to benefit East Pasco Habitat For Humanity. The concert will take place at Myrtle Lake Baptist Church, 2017 Riegler Road, Land O' Lakes. The church faces State Road 54 right before Collier Parkway.

COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS: For the past five years, Artists for Humanity has performed benefit concerts for a number of philanthropic causes and organizations.

GET INVOLVED: Tickets for "Music Is Love" are $15 and include treats and coffees, punch and tea. Tickets also will be available at the door the night of the concert. For information, call (352) 547-1444, (352) 588-4058 or (813) 992-5738.

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