TORONTO — Two Toronto women are holding a children’s concert to raise money for Save a Child’s Heart.
Jen Gould
For the second year in a row, Sari Goldman, along with event co-chair Michelle Weinberg, is organizing Sing Your Heart Out, with all the proceeds going to the Israeli charity.
Save a Child’s Heart, Weinberg says, “provides lifesaving cardiac surgery for infants and children from underprivileged areas. It’s based out of a hospital in Israel.”
Last year nearly $20,000 was raised from the concert and five children were helped, Goldman, who sits on the Save a Child’s Heart board, says.
“Last year was so successful. We had a goal of raising $10,000 – it costs $10,000 to save one life – but really our goal was to have a great concert, raise awareness and have a good community outcome.
“We surpassed our goal… we were actually able to save five kids’ lives. At the time there were five kids that needed little parts of the whole package. One kid just needed transportation, one just needed the post-operative costs.”
Performing at the concert this year are Juno Award-winning children’s singer Jen Gould and Marky Weinstock.
Goldman came up with the idea for Sing Your Heart Out because she found Save a Child’s Heart did not run many events targeting the 30-something crowd.
“I was a new mom at the time, and it’s this target audience of 30-somethings with young kids who were not necessarily being included in the different events that Save a Child’s Heart was doing,” she says. “Families with kids the same age as those being operated on were being passed over.
“Everyone wants something fun to do with their kids, and a kids concert is a great way to get everyone out and have a fun morning.”
“I think it’s going to be a really great fun event,” Weinberg says. “Last year was a great feeling of [the] community coming together to help kids in need all over the world, and hopefully it’ll be a great event again this year.”
Sing Your Heart Out is on Jan. 30 at Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. For more information and to purchase tickets ($20 each or $65 for four), visit www.saveachildsheart.ca.
