Sarah’s Charity Work 2004

Holiday Greeting Card

After an incredible public response to Leonard Cohen’s 2003 original holiday greeting card, War Child Canada has received 17 more one-of-a-kind cards, designed exclusively for the charity by some of Canada’s top recording artists. The cards – all for sale by the charity – have been designed by artists including Avril Lavigne, Sarah McLachlan, Barenaked Ladies, Canadian Idol Kalan Porter, Billy Talent and Keshia Chante. All proceeds from the cards go directly to War Child Canada’s relief efforts around the globe including in Darfur (Sudan), Iraq and Afghanistan.

War Child Canada President, Dr. Eric Hoskins – who just returned from Darfur earlier this month – explains, “With war and conflict currently plaguing so many children and families around the world, it is important to think about what role Canada and Canadians can play in helping those who need it most. Buying War Child Canada holiday greeting cards and CDs is one way that Canadians can help.”

The charity has also teamed up with music retailer Music World to raise funds for war-affected children. With each purchase of War Child Canada’s benefit CD Peace Songs, buyers will receive a free holiday greeting card. Peace Songs features songs from over 20 artists – including Leonard Cohen, Paul McCartney, Chantal Kreviazuk and Our Lady Peace – in support of War Child Canada.

World On Fire video

Sarah McLachlan’s video for her single “World on Fire” was a real moneymaker — for charity. The singer donated what she felt was the standard cost for the production of a video — $150,000 — to 11 charities worldwide, including Comic Relief, Film Aid, War Child and Action Aid, and still had $15 left over to cover the cost of a mini DV tape to record the clip for the song. The video features a performance by McLachlan interspersed with scenes of camera crews, electricians and other examples of how the money spent on one music video is distributed, comparing that with the costs of food, medical supplies and education for more than 1 million people. iTunes will offer an exclusive download of the video in its U.S., U.K., France and Germany store locations.

List of the donations:
– Carolina for Kibera: 12 room clinic and land deeds & Medicine for 5000 people for 6 months in Nairobi Kenya: $30,000 (http://cfk.unc.edu/)

– Comic Relief : Running street children’s hospital in India for a year, Feeding 10 street children in Calcutta 3 meals daily for 1 year, Schooling for 100 street children in Tanzania, Education for 200 students in Ethiopia: $16,950 (http://www.comicrelief.com/)

– CARE USA : Building of 6 wells in S.E Asia, Latin America & Africa, Helping 100 widows to develop income generating activities in Afghanistan, Sending 145 girls to school for one year in Afghanistan, Equipping 10 classrooms in Afghanistan, Training 10 teachers in Afghanistan: $21,480 (http://www.care.org/)

– DORCAS : Total running costs of orphanage in South Africa, Improving the lives of 10 elderly people in Eastern Europe: $20,000 (http://www.dorcas.net/)

– Engineers Without Borders – Canada : To purchase and implement a Multi-Function Platform in Ghana, Christy Yaa: scholarships, Nana Yaa: scholarships: $17,000 (http://www.ewb.ca/en/index.html)

– Help the Aged : Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) vehicle providing medical treatments: $15,000 (http://www.helptheaged.org.uk/en-gb)

– Film Aid: Entertainment & escaping for refugees: $ 9,500 (http://filmaid.org/)

– War Child: 70 former child soldiers to receive schooling & psychosocial support, 7 young people in Sierra Leone to receive job training, Education, shelter & food for orphans in Ethiopia: $ 5,500 (www.warchild.ca)

– Heifer International: 1 heifer, 2 goats, 1 buffalo, 2 sheep, 4 goats, 2 llamas and 1 heifer, A pig, Chicks, Ducks: $ 2680 (http://www.heifer.org/)

– ITDG : Scheme which would allow 300 families to remove smoke from their homes, 10 smoke hoods, 5 bicycle ambulances, Nuts & bolts to secure houses of monsoon victims, Sudanese irrigation: $ 5000 (http://www.itdg.org/)

– Action Aid: To aid and implement programs in Khlaipathar village, Orissa, India to encourage families to be able to stay together, 5000lbs potato seeds for planting vegetable gardens: $ 5160 (http://www.actionaid.org.uk/)
Total: $148,270

Letter to the Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin

March 18th 2004
An open letter to Prime Minister Paul Martin opposing missile defence will be released at press conferences on Thursday, 18 March in Toronto and other locations across Canada. Bryan Adams, Pierre Berton, Sarah McLachlan, David Suzuki, Nobel Prize recipients and others sign letter.

BC Cancer Research

October 4th 2004
Almost two years to the day of the largest fundraising concert in Canadian history — the BC Cancer Foundation Presents benefit concert for cancer — the BC Cancer Foundation will host a fundraising evening of celebration in the new BC Cancer Research Centre. On Oct. 4, two of Canada’s premier music artists, Jann Arden and Sarah McLachlan, will return to perform in an intimate concert at the state-of-the-art research facility, marking a milestone for the BC Cancer Foundation and the people of British Columbia.

Wearing “Stop Harper” buttons

June 2004
An informal network of women from across Canada announced today that over 5000 women have signed on to a non-partisan letter of concern about Stephen Harper and the new Conservative Party. The ad hoc group, including Maude Barlow, Naomi Klein, Judy Rebick, Elizabeth May, Doris Anderson, Dr. Ursula Franklin, Shirley Eikhard and leaders from the trade union movement, business, academia, lawyers, teachers, doctors, clergy, scientists, aboriginal women, immigrant women, writers and entertainers, has grown exponentially since the release of the letter. When released to the media on June 13, the letter was signed by eighty women, including Sarah Polley, Sarah Harmer and leaders from many walks of life. In the twelve days since its release, a spontaneous electronic effort has resulted in a further 5,000 signatories. The effort received a real boost when Canadian musicians Avril Lavigne, Sarah McLachlan and other celebrities adopted the letter and wore stop Harper buttons at the MuchMusic awards. “A Harper Conservative government would privatize essential services, enter into Bush’s dangerous ballistic missile defense program, allow Canadian military personal to be sent into unjust wars, and work to withdraw some fundamental rights guaranteed by the Charter,” says Maude Barlow. “These policies are dangerous for all Canadians, but especially women. On June 28, we must vote to ensure that the Harper agenda does not become a reality.”

March For Women

April 2004
More than 100 Actors and Artists Unite Against Government Intrusion and Attacks on Women’s Reproductive Rights and Health. Sarah McLachlan is appart of the All-star Celebrity Coalition.
Official site: marchforwomen.org

Leeza Gibbons Presents Reflections

September 14th 2004
Sarah McLachlan, Madonna and other top artists have contributed previously released tracks to the benefit CD, “Leeza Gibbons Presents Reflections,” Top Sail Productions released the collection of songs September 14 and will donate 100% of the profits to the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The CD sells for approximately $12.98 at retail. “Leeza Gibbons Presents Reflections” includes songs by Barry Manilow, Aretha Franklin, Gloria Estefan, Josh Groban, Reba McEntire and Rod Stewart, among others. The disc can also be played as a DVD, so people can learn more about Gibbons’ story and the Memory Foundation. Gibbons started the Foundation in 2002 after her grandmother and mother were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Says Gibbons, “The ability to understand music is one of the last senses to go. My mother is still alive. She doesn’t speak, she’s just sitting there, but one of the last things we were able to do together was listen to music.”

Track Listing: 01. I Will Remember You – Sarah McLachlan