A wide variety of talented artists played to an appreciative though sparse audience at the Raven's Cry Theatre Sunday afternoon during the Help the Kids Concert, meant to raise money to aid children affected by the tsunami and the orphans in Puebla, Mexico.
The idea for the concert came from 11-year-old student Daniella Donati when she heard of the hardships faced by orphans at Alto Refugio Orphanage in Puebla, Mexico.
Brian Harbison, master of ceremonies at the concert, said Daniella heard the story while at church one Sunday and she felt blessed to live in a place where she had love, food and peace.
"She wanted to do a concert to raise money for blankets, food and school supplies for the orphans in Mexico," said Harbison.
With the help of her mother and local artists, the Help the Kids Concert was planned. Before the concert could happen, the tsunami hit in Asia.
Daniella wanted to help the children affected by the tsunami as well and decided to make the concert a joint benefit with 75 per cent of proceeds going to the Red Cross to help with tsunami relief and 25 per cent going to the orphans at Alto Refugio Orphanage.
Daniella also collected food for the food bank, which audience members and performers topped up.
Daniella's mother Francine said she was not at liberty to release the final number of tickets sold or money raised, only that the performers were "proud to be a part of the benefit concert."
Performers at the benefit included Nicholas Simons, Chatelech Secondary School Senior Band, Steve K, Daniel Kingsbury, Ken Dalgleish, Trudy Diening, Joe Hatherill, A Wing and A Prayer, Graham Walker, Neal Andrews, Lowry Olafson, Davis Bay Singers and Aaron Zerah.
Many of the artists created special music or lyrics or dedicated songs to the victims of the tsunami during their performances.
Francine also noted there was "quite a bit of food," collected for the food bank at the benefit that will be given to the Sechelt Food Bank this week.
She said many different people and organizations helped make Daniella's benefit concert a reality and she thanks them all for their support.
