February 19, 2010
CD Compilation to Raise Funds For Haiti - Press Release
Several Artists have composed songs of hope and together are releasing a 12 Track CD entitled Haiti. . .Unto The Least of These This compilation was intended for one purpose in mind, to help the earthquake-torn nation of Haiti. Over the past few weeks people have donated resources, time, and talents to see this collaborative project come together. From the studio time, to the reproduction of the CD, to the printing and promo, this work has been a labor of love on a national level.
Artists are represented from the GMA ( Gospel Music Association ), C.S.M.I. ( Christian Songwriters and Musicians Intl.) and Indieheaven, and will be raising awareness throughout the year at their venues The CD features 11 artists to include. . .Lara Landon, Bill Petty, Diane Di Stasio, Gene Schmidt, Paul Berkus ,Deanna Loveland, Remnant, Joshua Scott, Naima Johnston, Jason Wyatt, and Holly Hartz.
I ached at the thought of seeing elderly people not being cared for and mounted on thin uncomfortable cots, left in soiled clothing, and out in the hot sun. Children wondering aimlessly looking for their parents, wounded people with no pain killers to numb their pain. writer Gene Schmidt from Watertown Wisconsin said, I knew I had to do something, and for me that was to write a song that encourages others to help carry the burden in a practical way. The chorus reads; Lend a hand where hands are torn and scarred, be a friend to a child with a broken heart, give to those with less then you and me, who will hear the cry, . . . of Haiti.
Singer/songwriter Lara Landon, co-founder of New Reality International and one of Christian music's top new artists, collaborated with producer Chris Omartian to produce two heartfelt songs for the album. Chris Omartian, son of legendary pop producer Michael Omartian, has produced tracks with pop stars such as Pink and Hilary Duff in addition to teen pop band Jump 5 and popular gospel group 4Him. The song "Look Up" was written shortly after Landon's recent relief trip to Haiti this past November and was inspired by the resilience and determination of the Haitian people. Landon hopes that the album will not only raise awareness and funds, but will also stir the spirit of compassion in listeners bringing them closer to the heart of God and the heart of the Haitian people.
Two organizations that have been actively providing emergency aid for Haiti and who will be recipients of the funds collected are; New Reality International and HarvestSeed Intl. For more information on these two organizations visit;
http://www.newrealityinternational.org
http://www.harvestseed.org
CDs can be purchased online at http://www.csminetwork.com by going to the Haiti CD link or by sending a suggested donation of $15.00 or more to the Haiti Relief Fund, P.O. Box 581, Watertown, WI. 53094 . Look for the Haiti Relief Posters while you shop and consider helping the Haiti Relief Fund. All checks are to be payable to the Haiti Relief Fund where proceeds will be divided to the prior mentioned organizations.
February 2, 2010
"A Well-Received Debut Album and Deep Ties to Haiti Make Lara Landon One to Watch As One Of Christian Musics Most Promising New Artists"
By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
NASHVILLE,TN (ANS) -- At the age of nineteen, Lara Landon left her home in southern California to study music business at Belmont University, and from there worked to make industry connections while honing her skills at local shows.
Landon, who is a singer-songwriter, is one of 2009's most promising new artists, kicking off the new year with one simple goal: to make a difference.
Last week, Landon joined Michael W. Smith and dozens of artists at Belmont University's Ocean Way Studios in Nashville to record "Come Together Now," which will be made available for sale soon with all proceeds going to benefit relief efforts in Haiti.
But her relationship with Haiti is much deeper than one single evening in a Nashville recording studio.
Landon is the co-founder of New Reality International (NRI), a non-profit organization dedicated to helping those who are victims of extreme poverty, disease and injustice access free healthcare and vocational training.
The song "Better" from Landon's debut album, Beloved (Bema Media/Provident-Integrity Distribution), is the organization's theme song.
Just two months prior to the devastating earthquake, Landon spent a few weeks in Haiti assisting in ongoing efforts there to bring medical aid to a country in desperate need. NRI is currently in the process of mobilizing several teams to return to Haiti this month to aid in the relief efforts there.
"During my previous travels to Haiti, I realized what a wonderful country it has the potential to be," says Landon.
"The people are so full of life and beauty. The children there truly stole my heart and when I saw the recent re-devastation of the country, I knew that God had been preparing me to respond through our organization NRI.
"We are dedicated to helping Haiti recover and rebuild. When the world's attention has faded away we want to still be there making a difference in their lives. I feel very tied to this place now."
"Beloved, the debut release from Lara Landon, is, like most beloved things, a thing of beauty," declares NewReleaseTuesday.com.
The album has received stellar reviews since its release in September, with additional high marks from Focus on the Family's Plugged In Podcast, ChristianityToday.com, Soul-Audio.com, HigherRockMusic.com, CrossRhythms.co.uk, AlphaOmegaNews.org, ChristianMusicReview.org and many others.
"The real star of this album is Landon's voice," states JesusFreakHideout.com, comparing her to the likes of Sarah McLachlan and Leona Lewis.
In the final months of 2009, Landon appeared on numerous television programs including JCTV's new concert series 1 Music Village, Lesea Broadcasting's Live from Studio B, FamilyNet's Mornings, Good Morning Arkansas (ABC affiliate, Little Rock), Live at 9 (CBS affiliate, Memphis), Atlanta Live and the nationally syndicated mainstream morning show Daytime.
In addition, she's currently featured in promotional spots for Gospel Music Channel.
Websites:
www.laralandononline.com
www.myspace.com/laralandon
January 16, 2010 - Skagit Valley Herald
"Area Couple Returns to Haiti to Help Quake Victims"
By Aaron Burkhalter
Laila and Joel Mickelwait visited Haiti just two months ago.
Through their nonprofit, New Reality International, they took a team of dentists, doctors and other medical professionals to bring dental and medical care to the most impoverished neighborhoods.
The newly married couple, which operates Mickelwait Family Dentistry in Mount Vernon, went from a comfortable dental office to the difficult streets of Port-au-Prince, Haitis capital, where they saw 500 patients and performed 800 procedures.
Now theyre preparing to return to the Caribbean nation much sooner than they had expected. With tens of thousands dead or missing in the area and many more injured, the Mickelwaits and a team of medical professionals will join the throng of volunteers helping people heal and recover from Tuesdays devastating earthquake.
Laila Mickelwait was shocked by the news Tuesday that Port-au-Prince was all but destroyed. She said the city in November was already weighted down by poverty and failing infrastructure. She said 99 percent of the people they treated there had never seen a dentist before.
It is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Mickelwait said. Thats why we chose to go there. Even when we were there, we were seeing the way buildings were stacked together. We said, If theres ever an earthquake here, its going to be a huge disaster.
In November, the medical facilities lacked basic supplies. Mickelwait predicts they are completely nonexistent now.
We would be woken up in the night with screams, just because they didnt even have anesthetics, she said.
While there, the Mickelwaits and other volunteers were hosted by Haitian Christian Ministries, a nondenominational Christian nonprofit that operates churches, schools and orphanages in and around the nations capital.
Immediately after reading news about the earthquake, Mickelwait began sending e-mails to everyone she had worked with.
She has only heard from a handful of people she knew in Haiti. One doctor logged onto the social networking Web site Facebook, but phone contact is still impossible. She has contact with Haitian Christian Ministries and is working to determine what kind of help the group needs and when theyll be ready for medical volunteers.
Mickelwait has heard from many people hoping to volunteer through New Reality International. Shes had about 150 e-mails from doctors, nurses, dentists, filmmakers and construction workers hoping to follow her and her husband to Haiti.
By Friday, Mickelwait had volunteers lined up from New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, Finland, Switzerland, Canada and the United States.
Shes putting together an application to make sure volunteers are trained in the appropriate fields and are prepared for the emotional weight of serving a crippled community.
Mickelwait said shes not even sure what to expect.
Ive never been in a situation like that, she said.
Once they have clear lines of communication established with Haitian Christian Ministries, New Reality International will set up bi-monthly trips for as long as help is needed.
They dont have the resources to recover from something like this without massive aid, Mickelwait said.
• Aaron Burkhalter can be reached at 360-416-2141 or aburkhalter_skagitpublishing.com
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New Reality International (NRI) is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization dedicated to helping those who are victims of extreme poverty, disease, and injustice access free heathcare and vocational training.
We are a small organization with a very big heart and even bigger dreams for the future of the world's poor and suffering.
These dreams include:
Providing free medical and dental services to the most poverty stricken regions of the world
Building safe houses and vocational training centers for the young victims of sexual slavery in countries such as Cambodia and Thailand
Assisting those who have suffered from torture, rape, and injustice
Creating an aviation program that will enable us to reach some of the most remote regions of the world with medical and dental aid.
A note from the Director:
Dear Friends,
I want to thank you for your interest in this organization. Helping the poorest of the poor has been a dream of mine for many years and I am so excited to see this dream becoming a REALITY. I know that I am not the only one with this passion and that is why I am sure if you are reading this note you and I have a great deal in common. I want you to know that I value every idea, comment, donation, or word of encouragement and you can be sure that with NRI your voice will not get "lost" in the shuffle. I also want you to know that your donations will never get swallowed up by big bureaucracy, excessive salaries, or administrative costs. We all work as volunteers for NRI and we run this organization with little to no overhead costs. That is why you can be sure that every donation goes to help those who truly need your support. I would love to hear from you with any ideas, suggestions, or comments you may have. And don't forget, "how wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."
Yours Truly
Laila Mickelwait
Executive Director/Founder
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and hide not from the needs of all flesh and blood."
-Isaiah 58:6-7
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