Feb. 16 concert raises funds for Melissa’s Place

Feb. 16 concert raises funds for Melissa’s Place
O.B. Event Center event includes live auction & lots of music

On February 16, a benefit concert and live auction will be held in the Orange Beach Event Center at The Wharf, Orange Beach, Alabama. All proceeds go towards completing construction of Melissa’s Place, an orphanage being built in Haiti for girls 5 to 16 years old.
In addition to the music of The Coachmen, and Wojamm travelling here for this event, Gulf Coast local favorites Lisa Christian, Mac Walter, Gove Scrivenor and Shelby Brown (recently seen on The Voice) will perform. During the intermission of this great benefit concert, a live auction will be held with proceeds also going to Melissa’s Place. A number of local businesses are participating by contributing products and services and experiences to be included in the live auction. Items will include trip for 2 to Montana, 3 Night Beach Stay, Spa Packages, Private Gourmet Dinners and Golf Packages. Since the event (3:00pm – 6:00pm) takes place in the height of snowbird season, the majority of the audience (expected attendance 950) will be the Michigan and Iowa Snowbird Clubs and it is expected to be a sellout. Admission tickets are only $10 in advance and $15 at the door and patrons are invited to BYOB. Purchase advance tickets at paulmeyersfoundation.com/melissas place
Jerry Shelly, Director of the Melissa’s Place Benefit Concert says, “During my last trip to Haiti, I met a Haitian priest who is doing some amazing work to help address the needs of the many orphaned children there. His name is Father Garry. In addition to being a full-time priest, he has built two orphanages and is working on a third. I visited the proposed site for the new one in 2014 and met the 15 girls, ages 5 to 16 who would be the first to live there. I agreed to do what I could to help him raise funds that he will need to provide the girls with a safe home and opportunity. He estimated the cost to build and furnish the facility to be $85,000, a modest amount by U.S. standards.’’
The orphanage will be located in Georgette, a small hamlet about 35 miles east of Jeremy. Land for the site has been donated and the girls’ home will be named after Shelly’s daughter Melissa, who lost her life a decade ago in a tragic car accident.
The orphanage was 75% complete before Matthew, the recent hurricane did extensive damage to the buildings and supplies that had been shipped. Proceeds from the upcoming concert and live auction will go towards making repairs and the completion of the buildings. Some of the girls were already living in one of the buildings that had been completed.
Tax-deductible donations can be made to The Paul Meyer’s Foundation. Checks payable to The Paul Meyers Foundation for Melissa’s Place can be mailed to 1845 Cedarwood Road, Birmingham, AL 35216.
For more info, call Tina Morrison at 850-377-5603. Pictured: (l to r) Lisa Christian, Mac Walter  are among the entertainers helping raise funds for orphaned children in Haiti on Feb. 16.