Community Rallies Behind Musical To Fight Homelessness

In less than two weeks, local business man Mike White, is close to the halfway mark of his goal of raising $20,000 to help underwrite production of a musical to educate people on the causes of homelessness. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) September 18, 2011 - Jacksonville, USA - The musical is entitled "Another Sign". Mike White was inspired to write it after becoming friends with a local chef he once knew, and then being shocked to encounter him on the street after the man became homeless through a series of misfortunes. As president of Client Focused Media, White knew that the perception of homelessness needed to be changed to help people like his friend. He began writing poems on the subject and soon had enough song lyrics for a full-length production that tells the story of everyday people surviving through homelessness.

Music to accompany White's lyrics is being supplied by the winners of a contest he ran during the summer. Finalists will soon head into the recording studio and the winners will be announced in October.

"The stereotype is that homeless people are just vagrants, probably with drug or alcohol addictions. People don't have a lot of sympathy for that," says White. "But people just like you and me are becoming homeless every day for a variety of reasons. It could be due to job loss, natural disaster, or large medical bills from various health issues. Homelessness could happen to any of us."

White is raising funds for the project through Kickstarter.com, where anyone can visit and donate. As community leaders have heard about the musical, they have stepped forward to help. Donors already backing the project include Congressman Ander Crenshaw, Macky Weaver, Brigadier General Michael Fleming, and Michael Boylan. "I have had the support of many of my clients and business relationships," Said White. " David Bailey with Bailey's Powerhouse Gym, Sue Kowalewski with Massage Envy, Daniel Griffin with Weather Engineers and Steve Strum with Coastline Federal Credit Union all were quick to back the musical."
"The homeless issue is real. Thanks for taking this on. I'm a backer," said Paul Boynton, President of Rayonier, when he submitted a donation. Wally Lee, President of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, sent White the message, "Sounds like a great project...Congratulations to you on your leadership."

An advisory group of supporters is also helping White launch the project. It consists of Penny Kievet, Development Director of the City Rescue Mission; Michael Boylan, President of WJCT; Woody Carlson, Promotions Director at Renda Broadcasting; Margie Seaman, National Director with Seller's Realty Group; Tracy Collins with Action News; Arthur Crofton, morning show personality with WEJZ; Sarah Boone, Director at Theatre Jacksonville; Kent and Pepper Lindsey, owners of Lindsey Films; and Lisa Moore, Director of Policy and Compliance with FSCJ.

Donations will be collected on Kickstarter through October 29 to fund the musical. The donation site can be found at www.kickstarter.com/projects/anothersign/another-sign-the-musical?ref=live. To learn more about the musical itself, visit www.itsanothersign.com.

About Another Sign

Another Sign is a musical by Mike White. The music is being composed by musicians Jeff Congo, Dave Massey, J Collins, TJ Ward, as well as several others through a musicians against homelessness competition. The central plot revolves around three main characters; Taylor, Anne, and George, and is a story of hope and homelessness and looking at people for who they are. The play takes place in an urban city. Taylor is a homeless boy that is 20 years old. He has been living on the streets since he was 14. He was shuffled from foster family to foster family. Anne, a 16 year old is filled with compassion and love and is eager to help others. George, Anne's Grandfather, is blinded by his prejudices towards homeless people. Like many, his assumptions are that all homeless people are that way because of drug and alcohol addictions. His belief is that they could escape homelessness if they wanted to. CFMedia Jacksonville Marketing

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