Congratulations to the talented artists selected to be on the 2011 9th edition of Holiday Magic, a Gift for Children of All Ages CD! It was a difficult job to do, however at last we have narrowed it down to the final 20 songs and stories to go along with the yearly CD tale which includes Santa, Mrs. Claus, Jeffery, Rudolph, Carlito, and Kate the reindeers, plus this year we meet Master Elf Thalion as Santa declares a new holiday to celebrate those who sometimes get taken for granted…the elves! You can see the track list below.  And to those who submitted but were not selected, we are very grateful for the sharing of your creative talent and hope you enter again next year.  We are accepting submissions year round, so why not get started now!

One of this years selected talent, Austin Bryant of Boston, MA and his band “Brothers Royale” who submitted “Just About Midnight” was diagnosed with type II diabetes in 1998 at age 11 and he tells us, “I spent some time in children’s hospital to adjust to the change in life style then went every three months until very recently. The hospital had to pretty much tell me I wasn’t a kid any more or else I would still be going. I was by far the oldest and tallest patient in their for years haha! Let me know if I can do anything to help.” You are helping Austin, by donating this upbeat, fun and festive song “Just About Midnight” which will be heard this holiday season on ABC Family’s “25 Days of Christmas” marathon in the movie “Desperately Seeking Santa.”

Another of our talented artists from Canada tells us… Take two of Canada’s top VO talent, put them in front of a class of 14 and what do you get – The Double Diva’s. Deb Munro & Elley-Ray Hennessy are a unique pair.  These two ladies tell it like it is, but with humour and style (well lets just say it’s a style of their own).
Having to act like children themselves, kids hold a special place in their hearts. Together with the help of their Calgary, Alberta, Canada Students they’ve put a little skit together to say Merry Christmas to all of you, through a little story you can relate to – Social Networking!
Each student was assigned a Christmas greeting from a different country other than their own and the results are in this wonderful little clip called “Greeting from Around the World” – from the Double Diva’s Workshop!
Merry Christmas everyone!

If you would like to hear the CD it will be aired every Sunday night in December online at www.RadioFreeJMT.com.  More details to come.

You can also purchase CD’s for $15 each including S&H with all proceeds going to creating more CD’s for the hospitilized kids.  Send a check to: Children’s Holiday Magic Project, P.O. Box 3386, San Diego, CA 92163 and include a self addressed CD envelope.  They make great stocking stuffers!

Stay tuned for more updates and join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/holidaymagiccd and follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/holidaymagiccd.  Happy Holidays!

Donations

Please make a donation and bring a smile to a sick child this holiday season via Paypal on our website at www.HolidayMagicCD.org/donations, or send a check to; Children’s Holiday Magic Project, Inc. at P.O. Box 3386, San Diego, CA 92163.  Every $10 donation will bring a smile to a hospitalized child.

Last week I turned on my fireplace, dusted off my favorite pair of
boots, and now a big fat pumpkin welcomes guest who arrive at my
doorstep.  Just as the excitement of the seasons changing warms my
heart suddenly panic hits… ack, the holiday season is less than two
months away! What will be my signature gift this year? Do I have
enough time to make my own cards? Who will be hosting Thanksgiving?
Can I really lose 5 pounds by New Years?

In the midst of sugarplum ferries dancing in my head I begin to think
back to last holiday season. I was working at Rady Children’s
Hospital. Believe it or not, the holidays were my favorite time of
year at the hospital. I know, I must sound emotionally disturbed to
find happiness in a hospital…especially a children’s hospital at
Christmastime. It’s hard for me to put this into writing, but let me
try to explain. There was something really magical about the hospital
thanks to our amazing community and wonderful volunteers  and staff
who bring the spirit and aesthetic of the season to the children it
serves. Some days it felt like you were part of Santa’s workshop. The
nurses’ stations were decorated for the season and child life
specialists were busy gathering donations to make sure that no child
was forgotten on Christmas morning. Thanksgiving dinner was prepared
in the cafeteria and holiday crafts were created in the playroom.

Throughout the year, the hospital has special visitors approved to
provide entertainment for it’s young patients. The past eight
years Children’s Holiday Magic Project would deliver their annual CD called,
Holiday Magic, A Gift for Children of All Ages!
My team would walk aside this group singing songs and pulling a red wagon
filled with CD’s- passing one out to every single patient! There is
something magical about music that provides calm in the storm, a break
from the worry, and it’s almost impossible not to smile when you see a
group of grown men and women singing a song about a bear hug.  As I
reflect on the smiles that group brought to families it puts my
trivial worries of presents, turkey dinner and weight loss into
perspective. There will be more than 200 kids who spend one of the
many upcoming holidays in the San Diego hospital, but there is so much peace in
knowing that it’s the little things, like a magical CD and the love of the
volunteers who create it that makes it a little brighter.

Written by: Annie Evans

Hurry and purchase your discount Tix so you can see Ms. Poppins Fly!  And you can see it for less and help our hospitalized kids have a happier 2011 Holiday! Great seats still available! Click here to purchase and Enter Promo Code HOLIDAY, and put a smile on a child’s face this holiday season!   Thanks for your support!

You read it right! Click on the link above, Print the flyer and Bring it to any San Diego Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant location on Thursday July 14th from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM.  Hand it to the cashier when you order and they will send 20% of all proceeds to Children’s Holiday Magic Project to help produce the Holiday Magic, A Gift for Children of All Ages 2011 CD’s for the kids at Children’s Hospitals that can’t go home for the holidays.  Enjoy some great food, they do have the best bread sticks, and support a good cause.    To meet some of the Children’s Holiday Magic Project volunteers visit the Mira Mesa location. Thanks and enjoy your lunch or dinner!

~CHMP Pat & Oscar’s Offer~