Sonja Mendez
Del.icio.us
Sonja Mendez
Next week Tuesday (May 8) entertainer Sonja Mendez will celebrate her new CD, Back to the Islands, while raising funds for a cause dear to her heart - the Well of Hope Foundation.
After returning from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, last year, Mendez and four Hawaii residents formed the organization to raise money to build a water well near the village of Gilo Ager. After learning that the village children wake up at 3 every morning to walk three hours to fetch water from a dirty river, Mendez and her companions promised the well to themselves and the village elders.
“To build this water well, which is going to be very, very big, is going to cost about $60,000,” says Mendez. “They’ve already started drilling, and just from word of mouth we already managed to raise about $10,000. We’ve been lucky to have people who have been compassionate and giving.
“When I look at my life, I’m not a wealthy person, but I have a good life,” says Mendez, a proud mommy of four canine keiki. “I have all my basic needs, so what else is there in life? To be able to help people survive, which is why this water well is such a passion - all we want is water.”
It worked out perfectly for Mendez that her CD wrapped during the time they had planned to go forward with their fundraising efforts. In true giving fashion, Mendez is donating all the proceeds from the event to the foundation to help build the well.
“I’m so passionate about my CD and so passionate about this well that it’s a perfect marriage to have the two together,” says the Aiea High School graduate.“I really wanted my CD release party to be a humanitarian effort.”
Tickets for the event are $40, which includes an impressive lineup of entertainers and food spread. The featured entertainers are Anita Hall and Nueva Vida, Connie Kissinger, Ben Vegas and Maila Gibson, the Fab Four and others. Food will be provided by Hong Kong Harbor Restaurant. Don Ho’s Island Grill, Gordon Biersch and a couple other area restaurants.
For tickets or more information, call Hawaii’s Best Tickets at 545-2820 or visit www.hawaiisbestickets.com
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS Comments (0) |
Most Recent Comment(s):
