More Local Help for Haiti TONIGHT!

Joel Mabus, a nationally renowned folk musician, together with several Michigan folk artists will be playing a concert to benefit the organization International Child Care in Haiti. The concert will take place at the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Auditorium in Texas Twp. at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are a suggested $20 donation per person, or $50 for a family of four.

Mabus has been touring for 30 years as a folk musician, and played songs from his 18 albums at famous venues like the Vancouver Folk Festival.

Michigan folk artist Rachel Davis won a Boston Music Award for best new singer-songwriter in 2002, as well as the grand prize in the troubadour contest at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. The concert will also feature performances by Drew Nelson, a guitarist and singer-songwriter, and the folk-trio Carmea.

This is sure to be an excellent show, and it goes to a great cause. ICC, Haiti has been credited with trying to eradicate TB in Haiti, and will be offering trauma care and counseling to children who have lost parents in the terrible Jan. 12th quake.

To: Haiti, From: The Harlem Globetrotters, with Love

The Harlem Globetrotters will donate a portion of proceeds from all games played Jan. 22-24 to a UNICEF charity benefiting earthquake victims in Haiti. Lucky for you, two of the seven games being played by the world-famous hoopsters can be enjoyed right here in West Michigan.

If you are around East Lansing, they will be playing at 7 p.m. at the Breslin Center on Sat., Jan. 23. Tickets range in price from $16-$78.

If that doesn't work for you, try the 2 p.m game at Grand Rapid's Van Andel Arena on Sun., Jan. 24. Tickets range from $19.25-$83.25.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic events that have so ravaged Haiti, and our hearts are with them,” said Globetrotters CEO Kurt Schneider. “On behalf of our players and fans around the world, we pledge to support them in any way possible during this unspeakably difficult time.”

The magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti on Tues. leveling the capital city and leaving aide organizations struggling to reach the 3 million people in need. This is a great, fun way to get some dinero to that cause. The games are family friendly and loads of fun.

If you can't make either game, there are other ways for you to help, including a direct donation to UNICEF or the American Red Cross.