Benefit shows for Haiti earthquake relief January 26 and 27 at the Looch

On Tuesday, Jan. 26, and Wednesday, Jan. 27, Pizza Luce will host a two-night benefit show to raise money for Haiti earthquake relief efforts. Music starts at 10 p.m.; cover is $5.

Tuesday’s bluegrass lineup
Two Many Banjos
Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank
Rich Mattson

Wednesday’s hip-hop/reggae lineup
Crew Jones
2 one 8
Prince Paul
Miss Mae
DJ Horse Fist

Both Tuesday and Wednesday nights will begin with a silent art auction, featuring local paintings, photographs and jewelry. There will also be a raffle each night for gift certificates to over twenty local businesses, such as Electric Fetus, Jitter’s, New Scenic Cafe and more. Raffle tickets are $5 each.

All money raised will go to Wyclef Jean’s Yele Haiti organization, a grassroots organization providing relief aid to Haiti. UPDATE: Due to the recent allegations against Wyclef Jean’s organization, referenced in the comments to this post, the organizers of this event have decided to instead donate 75% of proceeds to Oxfam and 25% to the Kako Foundation.

36 Comments

Calk

about 14 years ago

Glad Luce is doing this. If I donated books would people pay big bucks for a good cause and buy them?

Mac

about 14 years ago

Really?  Wyclef's organization?  You mean the non-profit that paid him over half a million dollars last year and has been riddled with accusations of mismanagement and fraud?  I know you are doing this for a good cause, but why not just give it to the Red Cross and know your money is going to Haiti instead of possibly somebody's pockets who doesn't need it.

edgeways

about 14 years ago

Wyclef Jean's organization has indeed come under some fire, click here  and here for overviews.

In fairness Jean has responded to these reports. However, while on one level I applaud everyone who is making an effort, Jean included, I truly believe that funds would infinitely be better served if donated to an established and proven effective organization, even if they are not as hip as WJ. The Red Cross or Oxfam. Are two such organizations. Partners In Health is another good option. Again, FWIW, both Oxfam and PIH where in Haiti prior to the earthquake, and both will be there well after the ARC leaves.

I don't know if the organizers of this event will read this, but if they do, please consider this as an appeal to reconsider the recipient of these funds.

gea

about 14 years ago

Why not Kako Foundation, Duluth based, teaching kids in Haiti music. They lost their building, etc. 

www.kakofoundation.org

Calk

about 14 years ago

Mac's right, there's been a lot in the media the last few days about Wyclef's foundation lining his pockets. I actually love the idea of Duluthians holding a benefit to help the Kako Foundation, founded by UMD music professor Rudy Perrault after his nephew, Kako, was murdered in Haiti several years ago. Great idea, Gea!

picturetoday

about 14 years ago

I agree.  I love the idea but would not attend if Wyclef's charity was involved.  He has proven to be fraudulent at best with it, using it to fill his own bank account.

Alex

about 14 years ago

I just spoke to the show organizers, and they have agreed not to send the money to Wyclef's organization, now that these accusations have come to light. They are working hard right now to find an acceptable charity to which to donate the money. Any suggestions are welcome.

Sarah nordlund

about 14 years ago

Hello, My name is Sarah Nordlund, owner of Ubiquitous bookings and organizer of the Haiti fundraiser at Pizza Luce.  It has been brought to my attention That the Wyclef organization has been accused of embezzlement and that it may not be the best organization to send the proceeds to.  Although, nothing has yet been proven, we are looking into other options. First and for most let me remind us all, that we just want to help the people of Haiti. 
I have looked into the Kako foundation and we spoke with Rudy the founder this morning about it. I would love to contribute a percent of our proceeds to this foundation but they are not providing direct relief at this point in time. I looked into the Doctors with out borders foundation as well, but saw that one of there planes with medical supplies was denied access last week. I prefer to donate to a grass roots organization and I know that many of the musicians involved in the show feel this way as well. We all just want to get as much to Haiti as we possibly can. So, at this point in time the organization has yet to be determined. I am indeed looking into the suggestions above! Thank you so much for your thoughts and concerns. We will keep you posted.
~Together We Rise~

Calk

about 14 years ago

I am impressed by Partners in Health, www.pih.org, they've been in Haiti for a long time, so have people there on the ground who know what in the hell is going on and what needs to be done. And a lot of people I respect tell me they are doing great work and are not pocketing donations, as Wyclef's organization has been accused of doing. Sad, b/c I love Wyclef's music. So, check them out, www.pih.org. And good luck, so glad you are doing this and are open to your slight change in plans.

edgeways

about 14 years ago

Thanks for the consideration and update. I fully understand the desire to donate to a grassroots organization. However, I think given the magnitude of the disaster it would be wise to consider economy of scale. As I alluded to above the established and tested organizations are going to know what to do and have the experience to do it as effectively as can be. If you are looking for additional possibilities to the Red Cross, Oxfam and Partners In Health, here are a few link: CARE is very worthwhile, and a good general resource for evaluating charities is Charity Navigator which provides decent analysis of most organization. They also have a bloody huge database linked on their front page of the organizations that are providing Haitian aid

Sarah nordlund

about 14 years ago

YEah!! I was just looking into Oxfam. I woman who use to volunteer for them just contacted me. I will look into Partners in health next. We will probably divide the money between two organizations at this point. Thanks again for the support, suggestion, and guidance. It's so wonderful to be in contact with people who care. putting this show together has been a bit stressful and overwhelming due to the immediate need for help (these people need help NOW), but I am continually rejuvinated by the people I come into contact with along the way.
Namaste'

Paul Lundgren

about 14 years ago

@ Calk -- I asked Alex about your offer to donate books and he said that would be a welcome donation. If you can toss a few into a box and give them to whoever is at Luce's hosting station, that would be great.

mevdev

about 14 years ago

I second the Kako Foundation. It is a boots-on-the-ground operation overseen by Duluthian Dr. Rudy Perrault. 


I don't know how their music school fared, but it was providing incredible educational services and musical instruments to Haitians. 


http://www.kakofoundation.org/

picturetoday

about 14 years ago

You also may want to consider donating the money Katrina victims or the homeless in our area.  The tragedy in Haiti is bad, but we should remember that our citizens are more important.

Carl

about 14 years ago

Sorry Sorry, but you know, "allegations" are the source of lies and deceit from our media.........as though non-profits and foundations don't have expenses and costs to their operations......

"Wyclef Jean was being demonized by the media because he was promoting methods of donating to charity where the money actually goes to victims and doesn't get swallowed up by giant transnational charities who have been caught stealing money before." 
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1525617/american_red_cross_stealing_your_donation.html?cat=48

1991 and 2004 were examples of Coup d'etat from your U.S Military.  We now have over 10,000 u.s. armed forces and Israeli Defense Forces - For what?  
   
"In 2000, Dr. Jehuda Hiss was the head of Israeli Abu Kabirs forensic institute. He indicated they would glue the eyes of the corpse shut so that family members would not know they had stolen the eye corneas of their loved ones. Dr. Jehuda Hiss stated, "We started to harvest corneas ... Whatever was done was highly informal. No permission was asked from the family." 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYXPAK6LaFU&feature=player_embedded# 

I'd say, use the wycleff foundation, seems rather odd that a black man who starts his own foundation for a country stricken with poverty and peril is now demonized by the american media.  Maybe the other foundations felt threatened by the amount of money he already has brought in and now needs to slander his effort to increase their own donation amounts.  ehem who would you rather donate through?  Bush/Clinton et. al. http://clintonbushhaitifund.org/


There are too many cultural parallels to draw on to compare the hypocrisy and blatant disregard for facts by the u.s. media conglomerate.

Carl

about 14 years ago

I also second the http://www.kakofoundation.org/.....

Got a little burned up inside seeing that a legitimate foundation was being slandered because of accusations.....when we have war criminals fronting foundations...disgusting.

Mac

about 14 years ago

Carl, neither Bush nor Clinton are war criminals so please stick to the facts rather than personal opinions.  The $500,000 that Wyclef received as head of his foundation approaches or exceeds that of the heads of Red Cross (http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3277), Oxfam (http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=4288) and CARE (http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3568).

All of this date comes from government-required tax filings so this information is accurate.  Wyclef's organization is for one country and does not accomplish anywhere near as much as these organizations do and they have a global scope.  It makes no sense that Wyclef's earnings from his charity should even approach the level of these companies, but I guess he can do whatever he wants with other people's money.

It's not demonizing a black man when legitimate questions like these are asked because Haitians deserve and should expect every dollar that the American people donate to help them gets to them and not in Wyclef's bank account.  And how did you bring race into this discussion and corneas and Israeli people and war criminals.  That has nothing to do with anything that we were discussing.

Mac

about 14 years ago

I was off a bit by saying $500,000 but it's closer to $400,000 than half a million.  Read what I'm talking about here and see how $100,000 of donations was spent on a concert, backup singers, office space and more instead of going straight to Haiti where it should have gone...

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2010/0119101wyclef1.html

edgeways

about 14 years ago

So wait... you're are suggesting that the heads of Oxfam, Red Cross, Partners in Health, CARE, etc are perpetuating a conspiracy against a wealthy musician who happens to be black? I'm sorry but you are straying into can't-take-you-seriously territory. Whether or not WJ's organization is acting badly or simply being accused of acting badly I don't know. But, enough credible sources, not just the "OMG horrible media!!!!", have raised concerns that need to be properly addressed by something more than a PR statement before I would feel comfortable sending money to them. Despite what you may think the colour of your skin does not preclude you from acting badly, plenty of assholes of all ethnicities floating around out there. Plenty of fantastic people too.

Calk

about 14 years ago

@ Paul, will do. Glad to donate some books to a great cause, whoever ends up receiving the funds from it.

Carl

about 14 years ago

Sorry guys....I do know that Bush and Clinton are both Humanists and in touch with Haitians and Americans Alike.  

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2010/01/haiti-a-haunting-history-lesson.html

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/jan2010/pers-j18.shtml

http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/world-mainmenu-26/africa-mainmenu-27/2747-un-backed-troops-wreak-havoc-in-africa

http://www.indystar.com/article/20100120/OPINION01/1200321/1002/OPINION/U.S.-military-corporations-can-help-Haiti-by-staying-out

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/world/stories/DN-bush_18int.ART.State.Edition1.4ba7e2d.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-a-palermo/media-coverage-of-haitian_b_427006.html

http://www.poder360.com/article_detail.php?id_article=3461

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2010/011910.html

Berv fan

about 14 years ago

Golly, PDD has become so full of controversy lately.

I miss Berv's line drawings.

Berv fan

about 14 years ago

Z rules. As always.

Arnold ziffel

about 14 years ago

Let's start raising monies for groups or people here first. When was the last time you saw anyone helping people here like homeless people or families in need? Never. Why do we have to always run to those living 2,000 miles away and give out our cash and time and we can't help out our fellow neighbors?

gorplady

about 14 years ago

And all this time, I thought James Monroe's main (only?) accomplishment had been forgotten. Hooray for the Monroe Doctrine! It's so good to know isolationism is alive and well!

TimK

about 14 years ago

If you consider the history of Haiti along with Colin Powell's "pottery barn" philosophy of "you break it, you bought it," it's pretty much up to the US to step in.

edgeways

about 14 years ago

One can certainly make the argument that programs to assist the homeless or families in need locally, regionally or nationally are underfunded. But, they do exist and do fantastic jobs with the resources they have. There are several Duluth based organizations that do this, and there are quite a few individuals in the community that work and volunteer at these places. So the "When was the last time you saw anyone helping people here like homeless people or families in need? Never." Is just completely factually wrong.  

It all boils down to this though: If you don't like the problem do something about it, stop bitching about people who are trying to do good.

Sarah Nordlund

about 14 years ago

Thank you Edgeways. It seems as though sometimes we forget how to positively direct our energy. And for me personally, I have spent many of hours donating in my local communities a well. Helping people all over the world is very important! This happens to be a MAJOR catastrophe that needs help in a HUGE way. Also, who is to say that people helping to put this event together are not part of the people "there"?? In my own personal opinion I find it disturbing when people start to separate themselves as "us" and "them." We are one, and in the end, I believe that together we rise, and together we fall. I think positivety and love can go a  long way. Just my personal thoughts.

Calk

about 14 years ago

Sarah, you are right. We are all in this together and just have to ignore the naysayers who are coldhearted enough to watch people suffering and not lend a hand. And I really doubt they're helping out anyone in need in their local community either.

Sarah nordlund

about 14 years ago

okey dokey.... I do beleive we have come to a decision where to send the monies collected from the benefit. We will send 75% to the Oxfam charity for immediate assistance, releif and aid, and 25% to the Kako foundation that is partnered with "food for the people".  :)
Please note we do not necessarily support the allegations on the Wyclef organization. Again all we care about is getting as much to Haiti as we can and feel that Oxfam and Kako would be that best means at this point in time... and hopefully will still be by this point in time next week. Thanks again for all the concerns and suggestions!!

Carl

about 14 years ago

way to go sarah! woohoo! (carl-:)

edgeways

about 14 years ago

Thanks Sarah, good job

Calk

about 14 years ago

This is great. Good job Sarah.

Sarah nordlund

about 14 years ago

Special thanks to Ashley O., Daniel O., and Cole M., too..... :) Couldn't have done this alone. 
Peace

Carmen

about 14 years ago

Cmon really we are more important? thats a bit ridiculous from what I can tell we have clean water to drink and access to many more opportunities and resources then the people of Haiti....

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