Charity Choir Receives Community Service Award

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY – Giving back to the community is
something to sing about for choir members of the Harmony Project –
one of the recipients at the Bridge Builders Awards tonight at
Lincoln Theatre.

The Center For Healthy Families will formally introduce itself
to Columbus by holding the first Bridge Builders Awards ceremony,
recognizing the Harmony Project and Michael G. Morris, chairman,
president and CEO of AEP, for their community work.

A live conversation with Ramona “Sapphire” Lofton, author of the
novel “Push,” which inspired the 2009 film “Precious,” is planned
during the program from 7 to 8 p.m.

The Harmony Project is a nonprofit service organization that
uses art to bring people together to strengthen the Columbus
community. David Brown directs the project.

The Center for Healthy Families “attended our concerts, saw
diversity and breaking of social barriers,” Brown said, “which is
what they’re all about.”

Project Harmony is known for its diverse 150-voice choir, in
which members are required to complete community service.

“If you don’t serve, you don’t sing,” Brown said.

Megan Stevens, director of volunteer services at Franklin County
Children Services, will work with Brown this holiday season for the
Harmony Project’s Hope for the Holidays toy drive to benefit
Children Services’ Holiday Wish program.

“David is high energy, enthusiastic and excited to be part of
something positive that gives back to the community,” Stevens
said.

Weekly rehearsals aside, this time of year the Harmony Project
is working on Project Hope, an effort to connect under-served
children in Columbus who lack music resources at their local
schools and communities with of community-funded arts
programs.