When you leave this world for a better home someday, the only thing you’ll take is what you gave away.
Grandpa Jones, Fallen Leaves
PHILANTHROPY
Through concert proceeds and CD sales, Robin has supported the efforts of several non-profit causes:
Profits from The Carolan Collection, Robin’s compilation CD of Irish harp music of Ireland’s legendary blind bard Turlough O’Carolan interpreted on guitar, are being donated to two western North Carolina animal rescue organizations: Brother Wolf Animal Rescue in Asheville and Full Moon Farm Wolfdog Rescue and Sanctuary in Black Mountain. To date, since the CD’s release at the end of 2015, profits for the cause have reached over $11,000 and counting.
Brother Wolf Animal Rescue
Brother Wolf Animal Rescue is a No Kill organization based in Asheville, North Carolina and was founded in 2007 to provide the resources and lifesaving programs to build a No Kill community. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit grassroots organization, BWAR operates a one-of-a-kind adoption center that is open to the public 365 days a year making it easy to adopt, volunteer, and become involved in their No Kill mission. Other initiatives include Search and Rescue as well as Rapid Response activities.
www.bwar.org
Full Moon Farm Wolfdog Rescue & Sanctuary
Full Moon Farm is an organization dedicated to the well-being of the wolfdog (wolf hybrid). A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization situated on 17 beautiful mountain acres in Black Mountain, NC, Full Moon Farm operates as a safe haven for abused and refused wolfdogs that cannot be placed into homes, for the rest of their lives. Rescued wolfdogs come from animal control agencies, closed breeding situations and occasionally an owner in crisis. FMF evaluates each animal upon intake and works with them at their level of comfort: some animals are “hands off” and some crave human interaction. Full Moon Farm’s mission of rescue, outreach and public education about wolfdogs is entirely dependent on donations, sponsorships and volunteers.
www.fullmoonfarm.org
Renowned Musician Helps Local Nonprofit- Click to Read
On January 31, 2016, Robin performed a benefit concert at St James Episcopal Church, Hendersonville NC, benefiting three local hunger and shelter relief agencies: Interfaith Assistance Ministry, The Storehouse and the Hendersonville Rescue Mission. The concert netted nearly $12,000 for the cause.
Interfaith Assistance Ministry
IAM is a faith-based nonprofit organization committed to meeting the basic needs of Henderson County families in financial crisis. Founded in 1984, IAM is funded by congregations, businesses, civic groups and individuals and is powered by almost 300 volunteers who contribute over 36,000 hours of service every year.
The Storehouse
The Storehouse was founded in May 2000 with the purpose of providing food and hygiene products to people with limited financial resources and, often, limited life skill sets. Over the years The Storehouse has added Blessings in Boxes, providing Christmas clothing and toys to children in need, and The Coat Closet, providing coats, hats, gloves and blankets to those in need (often the homeless in the Henderson County community). Clients are referred through various social agencies, pastors, churches, doctors or schools. The Storehouse is staffed by two part-time paid employees and over fifty trained volunteers.
Hendersonville Rescue Mission
The Hendersonville Rescue Mission ministers to the needy and helps to provide for their spiritual and physical needs, offering food, shelter, guidance, education, support and hope to those looking to better their lives.
In the fall of 2016 Robin embarked on an initiative to donate 25% of CD profits to two charitable outreach programs in Contra Costa County, California: White Pony Express and Francis in the Schools.
White Pony Express
Many in Contra Costa County can’t afford to feed or clothe themselves properly, and nonprofit organizations and shelters often don’t have enough resources to serve them. But many businesses are willing to donate their excess food and goods if someone could just pick it up and deliver it, which is why the White Pony Express was created. White Pony Express serves as “the connecting link between those with surplus and those in need.” Their Food Rescue program rescues high-quality surplus food, delivering it directly (generally within 2 hours) to organizations serving those in need, seven days a week. The Free General Store program (FGS) distributes new and like new clothing, toys & books to those in need, bringing the unique “Mobile Boutique” to impoverished neighborhoods and making direct distributions several times a week to shelters and occupational training programs. There is no charge or fee of any kind to anyone in any of White Pony Express’s programs. WPE also provide technical assistance to like-minded initiatives across the U.S. and internationally.
Francis in the Schools
Francis in the Schools is a free and fun-filled one-day outing offered for schoolchildren from inner-city neighborhoods. The program is designed as a nonsectarian lesson about Francis of Assisi, a remarkable figure known throughout the world for his powerful message of love, courage, and compassion. The children are honored guests, treated with courtesy, respect, and kindness, and offered a joyful, memorable day in the spirit of Francis. The day-long field trip begins with a lively musical play or concert about Francis or other powerfully inspiring historical figures, followed by a festive Faire with music, dancing, face painting, flower arranging, games, and treats. Since its founding in 2011 by Dr. Carol Weyland Conner, the program has hosted nearly 10,000 children at 20 events in San Francisco, Oakland, New York City, Baltimore, and Washington, DC.
Foundation for Autism Support and Training (FAST- ARCHway)
In the fall of 2016 Robin embarked on an initiative to donate 25% of CD profits to the Foundation for Autism Support & Training (FAST-ARCHway to Independence), located in Silver Spring, Maryland http://foundationforautismsupportandtraining.org
FAST’s mission is guided by a vision of a good life for people with autism across the entire spectrum. Through a person-centered process called Lifespan Planning, FAST-ARCHway ensures that adults with autism have the choice to live and thrive in the communities they know. To accomplish this, FAST developed a menu of high-quality community housing options that are sustainable, integrated, accessible, affordable, and most importantly, are real homes that are specifically adapted to support the needs of adults with autism.
FAST also trains qualified support staff, provides augmentative communication (speech generating devices) to help people with autism communicate and to use assistive to support greater independence. Other initiatives include:
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INFORMATION CLEARING HOUSE AND CALL-IN CENTER: Parents and advocates for people with autism phone or email FAST from all over the country to get personal advice and guidance on how to establish a quality of life for aging teens and adults with autism.
- ADOPT A CENTER: Autism centers world-wide receive free guidance and training over SKYPE on how to establish “best practices” for creating a good life for adults with autism through the lifespan.
- HOUSING MODELS FOR ADULTS WITH AUTISM: FAST created two high-quality, community-based housing models to address the needs of adults with autism
