The Second Annual "Lift Our Voice Lift a Child's Life" benefit Christmas concert will be held at the Struthers Library Theatre Sunday, Dec. 9 at 3 p.m. Admission is free, though donations will be accepted at the door. The concert will benefit the local Court Appointed Special Advocate group which provides support to local children in foster care.
The name of the benefit comes from the phrase "A child's voice. A child's life. Lifted up. By you," which has become a statement used by CASA nationwide. The mission of the group is to give a voice to those children who are going through the foster care system.
"I thought, when you're talking about lifting a voice, it lends itself to singing," explained Lisa Thompson, "so that's where the Lift Our Voice Lift a Child's Life title comes from." Thompson is the Director of CASA for Warren and Forest County.
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The Chautauqua Shore Chorus will return to Struthers Library Theatre this winter for the “Lift Our Voice Lift A Child’s Life” concert sponsored by Whirley DrinkWorks. The second annual event will benefit Warren and Forest County CASA. The concert, emceed by Bill Hill, will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 9.
CASA has served 90 percent of the youngsters in the foster care system in Warren and Forest County. "We've been very blessed with volunteers," said Thompson. Volunteers for the organization must undergo a rigorous process from application to the final step where they are sworn in by the court.
"Children in the foster care system have a lot of people coming in and out of their life. Their parents are no longer a constant. The one thing that CASA tries to do is have one person stay with them throughout the time they're under the court's jurisdiction," Thompson stated. "We also make sure the court is aware of the child's wishes or needs."
Thompson invites everyone to attend the benefit and learn a little more about CASA and what they do while helping to raise money for what she coins, "a great outreach."
The concert will feature performances by the Warren Area High School Choir, Lil Hunkle, Renaissance Singers of the Warren First Presbyterian Church, the Madrigal Singers of First United Methodist Church, the Conewango Clippers, the Chautauqua Shores Chorus, and more. The event, which is sponsored by Whirley DrinkWorks, will be emceed by Bill Hill who returns for his second year with the benefit.