Good news from the Bishop Maginn High School in Albany. As you know, the school is desperate to start a choir and a musical program. I got more than $500 in donations this morning and I just learned that  you can – as of today – donate for the choir project directly to the school:

Just send your checks to Bishop Maggin, Donations, 75 Park Avenue, Albany, N.Y., 12202 c/o Mike Tolan. Please mark the donations “For The Choir.”

This morning, I also got a wonderful letter from Judi, a long-time choir director who lives near Albany;

“I am wondering if you already have a director for that choir, as I may be interested in offering my help. I am a graduate of Crane School of Music and have almost forty years experience directing elementary, middle school, high school age, and adult choirs as well as teen musicals. I love all ages of young people, but 10-18 years old are my most favorite ages with which to work. I have also taught music in public schools and directed church choirs, as well as community sacred musicals.”

I put her in touch with Principal Tolan, she may well be a gift from the heavens. I believe this choir is going to happen.

Constance, a retired choir director, sent me this message:

“Jon, I directed the choir at our small Episcopal school for decades; the school has closed and I was asked to find something to do with the music.  We sang in many, many chapel services; I have a lot of nice choir music that’s just sitting here because I can’t figure out what to do with it; I’ve given some away, but have run out of places to give it.  Would you ask them at the school if I could send some of it to them?  I’ll pay the postage.  I used it in a choir of 6th through 12th graders, so it’s suitable for all those ages.  Please, please ask them if I can send them some; most of the anthems have about 25 copies.”

I said yes and thank you, the music is on the way.

This tax-deductible program will be very helpful to donors. Mike Tolan says he will immediately turn around and send a tax-deductible letter right back to them.

Some people – especially the smaller donors, or those who work closely with me – prefer to send the contributions directly to me, even though those are not tax-deductible. That is fine: Paypal, [email protected], or checks to Jon Katz, Choir Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.

I will get them to the school promptly (I can also make copies of your checks and get them to the school for receipts to be sent to you.)

I’m hoping to raise $1,000 this week directly to get the choir program started – there are some beautiful singers in the school. The teachers are desperate to start a school choir and also begin to assemble a music program.

Like other Catholic schools in urban areas, they have little money. They are open to the needy and the vulnerable young, and especially to the refugee children – there are more than 30 in the school.

I plan to work closely with the school to support them as much as is possible. They are a perfect match for the goals and compassionate hearts of the Army Of Good. I’m hoping for at least $1,000 but will be very happy for more than that, it will all go straight to the choir fund. They need everything – instruments, music, stands, chairs.

So please consider contributing to this music project (and there will soon be a Bishop Maginn Amazon Wish List also) by sending a contribution to the Bishop Maginn High School, 75 Park Street, Albany, N.Y., 12202, mark the check Choir Fund, (letter c/o Mike Tolan, Principal.)

Their hearts and minds are open to us, this is the openness and enthusiasm I have been yearning to find. We will do a lot of good.