Eight Princeton-based student choral groups — including the famed American Boychoir — are featured on the debut “A Princeton Christmas: For the Children of Africa” album as a way to lift spirits around the world and raise funds for the School Feeding campaign of the United Nations World Food Program in Africa.
Tom Meagher, a Princeton- area resident and moving force behind “A Princeton Christmas,” said the effort “quickly went from idea to album because every school we approached — from high schools to Princeton University — believes in the mission and could not wait to participate.”
The 20-song collection was produced in conjunction with the U.S.-based Friends of the World Food Program, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building support for the WFP (www.wfp.org).
“All proceeds from the purchase of downloads, from the Web site and soon through other sites including iTunes, or from the sale of CDs, will go directly to the children of Africa through the WFP,” Mr. Meagher said. “We fully expect this to be the beginning of a new and lasting holiday tradition.”
“The $30 purchase of this album will feed one African child for nearly three months,” he added.
The compilation includes signature selections donated by The American Boychoir; The Princeton Girlchoir; the Chapel Choir of Princeton University; The Westminster Concert Bell Choir and Westminster Choir of the Westminster Choir College of Rider University; The Tartantones of Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart; The Princeton Day School Choir Madrigal Singers, and The Princeton High School Choir.
Shirley A. Tilghman, president of Princeton University and a one-time secondary school teacher in Sierra Leone, said, “Princeton University is proud to be part of this remarkable grassroots initiative to help the children of Africa. The music is enchanting and inspirational, and the message of hope and love is immensely powerful.”
“We are proud to team up with the Princeton community in this timely and inspired effort to help feed the children of Africa,” said Karen Sendelback, president and CEO of Friends of the World Food Program. “We are delighted that every donation from ‘A Princeton Christmas’ will directly support the fight against childhood hunger in Africa,” she added.
For more information, visit www.princetonchristmas.org or www.friendsofwfp.org.
