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Ryder Concert Makes Connection with Children
Benefit raised $22,415 for VeAhavta

By James A. Mitchell
VeAhavta Press Officer

“Oh a storm is threatening, my very life today
If I don’t get some shelter, I’m going to fade away
War … children … it’s just a shot away…
Love … sister … is just a kiss away.”*

The Rolling Stones’ anthem, “Gimme Shelter,” has long been a part of Mitch Ryder’s stage show; never have the words meant as much as when dedicated to the orphan children and elders of Grace Care Center.

Ryder offered the performance during “For the Grace: A Concert of Hope” in tribute to the Sri Lankan orphans during a benefit concert Friday, Jan. 12 at Washtenaw Community College’s Towsley Auditorium. The crowded auditorium – with a capacity of 500 seats that were all but sold out by show time – rocked out during an evening of generosity and community. All told, ticket sales, donations, t-shirt contributions and a silent auction of donated wines and autographed Ryder albums brought in an impressive $22,415 for VeAhavta and the maintenance of Grace Care Center.

Ann Arbor-area VeAhavta volunteers, who promoted the show both at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and in the greater community, made the evening possible. A group called Blues Infusion served as opening act, a group including St. Joseph Dr. Paul Harkaway. Following the Blues Infusion performance (and a deserved standing ovation for the band), the audience watched a presentation put together by Dr. Naresh Gunaratnam that featured an overview of the orphanage by VeAhavta President Eric Parkinson, and a description of a “day in the life” of the Care Center narrated by manager Diane McLaughlin.

The presentations included dozens of photos of VeAhavta volunteers with the children and elders of Grace Care Center. Gunaratnam said that many of the attendees commented on the sense of connection felt when they saw pictures of people they knew at the orphanage.

The presentation ended with a special “introduction” for Ryder, seen on a video clip put together by McLaughlin, and delivered by Subananthini, Mehalatha, Ramya and Nishanthini, residents of Grace Home orphanage in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. The introduction was filmed less than a week before the show.

The successful evening was truly a group effort. Along with the talented musicians onstage, volunteers including Cheryl Huckins, Gina Amalfitano, Erin Whaley, Tara Rondy, Aruna Sarma, Colin Loomis and Lori Kostoff handled behind-the-scenes arrangements.

Ryder, who previously donated his time and talents during a benefit concert that concluded the 2005 “South Lyon to Sri Lanka” fund-raising campaign, was on hand during a pre-show reception, where enthusiastic doctors from St. Joseph Mercy Hospital allowed their inner rock-and-roll fan to come to the surface. Attendees not only bid on silent auction items, others came equipped with Ryder CDs and albums in search of an autograph.

‘The people were sincere about the cause,” Ryder said of the audience and attendees. “I was honored to perform for them.”

Ann Arbor-area volunteers are planning another fund-raising event, and Ryder agreed to repeat his performance, perhaps as an annual event.

“The flood is threatening, my very life today
Gimme, gimme shelter
Or  I’m gonna fade away.”

* “Gimme Shelter” – words and music by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards

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