Voices of Hope - Final

Although on February 20th, the morning started off windy and blistering cold, bright and joyful faces scurried into Eastview's performing arts center with warming hearts full of happiness, ready to sing. Voices of Hope is a new tradition at Eastview. Eastview's second hour Women’s Chorale, directed by Judy Sagen, planned a full day of singing, and having all proceeds benefiting families who have been affected by cancer, through an organization called, The Angel Foundation.

The Angel foundation’s vision statement is “Angel Foundation is a unique organization striving to identify and fulfill the individual needs of cancer patients and their families. The funds obtained are used to direct activities and services that are patient-focused acts of caring that make a difference. The Foundation strives to be an integral part of the community that provides a personal touch.”

A cancer patient who has been affected by the Angel foundation states “I would like to thank everyone at Angel Foundation and the contributors for the financial assistance with our mortgage payment. It was greatly appreciated. I have been in and out of treatment for my cancer for three years now and have been touched by so many kind and caring people willing to help. Thank you for your support!" -J.R.

Choirs, soloists, and amateur bands joined the day long festivities from all over the Twin Cities. Within Eastview, Spanish classes, faculty, administration, and parents took time out of their schedules to perform. Over the entire day, Northfield choir, Falcon Ridge middle school girls’ choir, soloists, etc. donated a portion of their boosters to the new foundation.

The Choir department set up a beautiful stage and heart-warming atmosphere. The color white, symbolizing ‘The white coat of compassion’ was found everywhere within the performing arts center, from hundreds of balloons bunched into striking archways, to the Choir’s T-shirts. Even the TV screens that were playing a slide show of names of cancer patients and cancer victims (each screen was ‘donated’ from the family) were delicately designed in white.

Although the grand total is still being calculated, the goal of Eastview’s Women’s Chorale was $25,000. All of the proceeds are going to a non-profit organization, The Angel Foundation. The Angel Foundation started in 2001 and has the intentions for helping people with cancer and their families through stability, education, support, and emergency financial assistance. “What inspires me most about the foundation is the depth of compassion,” stated a volunteer from the Angel Foundation.

Despite the atrocious subject of cancer and sickness, Eastview’s Women’s Chorale made the issue in a better focus of compassion and was extremely successful. With such positive feedback from all of the participants and audience, the choir department is already talking about and planning for next years Voices of Hope event.