By Brian Bigelow | Guest Writer
APSU and the surrounding Clarksville community joined forces with local businesses to hold the “Clarksville Responds” telethon, collecting more than $2,800 in donations for the Visitation Hospital Foundation.
The idea for the telethon began through conversations with area musicians, according to John Moseley, associate professor of the department of communication at APSU and one of the organizers of the telethon.
“A number of us thought it would be good to get together and play some music,” Moseley said, adding that, as more people heard about the idea, more musicians became interested in being a part of the event as a way of raising money for disaster relief in Haiti.
Eventually, Moseley was approached by local artists, painters, sculptors and photographers who asked if there was anything they could do to help.
“It just exploded into something significantly bigger,” said Moseley.
“We’re trying to make a difference,” said Mike Gotcher, chair of the department of communication. “It’s very moving to see how many people are willing to step-up and help.”
Between 50 and 75 volunteers were involved in executing the telethon including students and community volunteers, said Pamela Gray, an assistant professor of communications.
Communication students handled many technical aspects of the production, such as running cameras.
“Everyone saw that they had a talent to donate to get involved,” said Gotcher.
During the telethon, APSU President Timothy Hall sang a selection of songs from the “Great American Songbook” in the Music/Mass Communication concert hall, followed by music professor Thomas King who sang a selection of songs in French, Haiti’s official language, opening with the Haitian national anthem.
The Leaf Chronicle donated free ad-space for the event, the First Church of the Nazarene donated their building, and close to 30 musical groups donated their time. Businesses that made contributions include: 5 Star Radio, Lamar Advertising and Allegra Print & Imaging.
Local politicians, such as state Rep. Curtis Johnson, state Sen. Tim Barnes, and Mayor John E. Piper, also got involved and donated their time.
In addition to helping the citizens of Haiti, Gotcher said, the telethon was an attempt to create a charitable infrastructure that will allow “Clarksville Responds” to quickly respond, and contribute aid, to other tragedies and disasters anywhere in the world as they arise.
All donations and proceeds generated by the “Clarksville Responds” telethon are going to benefit the Visitation Hospital Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Nashville that is dedicated to providing “competent and compassionate healthcare to the people of southwest Haiti,” according to their Web site www.visitationhospital.org.
The Visitation Hospital Fund is a “very credible organization,” said Gotcher. “You know where your dollars are going to go.”
Money is needed for basic necessities such as bandages, antiseptic and even over-the-counter medications like Tylenol, which run out quickly and are hard to get in Haiti, said Timothy Winters, professor of languages and literature in an on-air interview during the telethon.
None of the donations given to the Visitation Hospital Foundation go to the government of Haiti or to covering the costs of overhead, said Winters. All donations go directly to the Visitation Hospital Fund.
Credo Amouzouvik, APSU student, recently returned from a trip to Haiti which he took with the non-profit aid organization that he founded, “The HOMEFFA Foundation.”
According to Amouzouvik, the Red Cross’s humanitarian efforts are mainly focused in Port-au-Prince, but he said “10 miles out of the city, it is horrible.”
“They are burning bodies in the street,” Amouzouvik said.
The Visitation Hospital is located in Petite Riviere de Nippes, approximately four hours from Port-au-Prince, and has approximately a 100-bed capacity.
Additional donations can be made to the Visitation Hospital Foundation through their Web site.
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