Perhaps you got to know Matthew “Mattie” Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek, as I did, during his many network appearances on Oprah, Larry King Live and other shows.
Trust me, once you saw and heard the bespectacled and precocious lad with the memorable voice and his unimaginably hopeful spirit — in spite of the unbeatable foe gaining on him, the one that had already claimed his three older siblings — you never forgot him nor ever looked at your glass as half empty again.
Mattie, who lived near Washington, D.C., suffered from a very rare form of muscular dystrophy called dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy, which impaired his breathing, digestion and heart rate. He died in 2004 at the age of 13.
But not before leaving the world with the power tools — his poems, quotes and a collection of books — to “be the change we wish to see in the world,” as President Barack Obama has said.
On Jan. 28, children who only know Mattie through his poetry are saluting him in a special concert at 6 p.m. at Zion United Church of Christ in North Canton.
“Heartsongs,” also the name of Mattie’s books, will be presented by the Children’s and Youth Choirs of A Chorus for a Cause.
“There are eight choral songs in the cycle that represent some of the important elements of Mattie’s writings,” said Joan Ferris, A Chorus with a Cause board member and spokeswoman.
“Six of the movements are based on actual poems written by Mattie. In Mattie’s first book, he left pages for people to write their own ‘Heartsongs.’ The children and youth of the choirs have been encouraged to do just that. Working on this music has been a lesson in life as well as music.
“So, in between the songs you will hear some narration … simple, yet profound in their insights, these words are treasured testimonies of the human spirit, and gentle admonitions for all of us to listen and learn. The message of this music is essential for young voices to sing. It is their ‘Heartsongs’ that can truly change the world and bring Mattie’s dreams for a better world to a wonderful reality.”
Children in grades 3 and 4 make up the Children’s Choir and those in grades 5 through 12 complete the Youth Choir. Sandy Simpson provides piano accompaniment.
Come and encourage them and encourage your soul in the process. A free-will offering will be collected along with children’s toys for Jayani’s Treasure Chest at Aultman Hospital.
“Help them make a difference,” Ferris suggested. “And bring about Mattie Stepanek’s philosophies of life: Remember to play after every storm! Make a choice to celebrate life to its fullest! And be an example of doing good every day.”
I’m predicting a crowd, so plan to arrive early.
Auditions for new choir members will take place after the concert, and others can be scheduled by calling the director Christine Allison at 330-456-3186.
The church is at 415 S. Main St., North Canton.
Winter wear giveaway
Arlington Church of God at 539 S. Arlington St. is hosting a “Winter Wear and Coat Giveaway” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 16 as a way to commemorate the birthday of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who is now honored with a monument on the Mall in Washington, D.C.
All are invited to the giveaway. Coats, for as long as they last, are suitable for children of all ages.
Dinner to benefit patient
“Strength and Courage for Brianne” is the benefit spaghetti dinner being planned for 4:30 p.m. Jan. 20 at Silver Springs Lodge, 5027 Stow Road, Stow, to assist the family of Brianne Dishong, 22, of Stow.
Brianne was diagnosed last month with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and is starting chemotherapy.
Raffle tickets are being sold and the committee is looking for donations for an auction. Admission is $10, $5 for children and seniors.
For more information, please contact Carey Ferrari at Prudential Karam & Simon Realty, 330-622-2290 or careyferrari@sbcglobal.net; or Carol Coia at Howard Hanna Real Estate, 330-802-3261 or carolcoia@howardhanna.com.
Successful fundraiser
I have Carolyn Sutter to thank for sharing the following about her daughter, 1st Lt. Ann Marie Sutter, a member of the U.S. Air Force Judicial Advocacy Group (JAG).
“The past three years, she has planned ‘Christmas Uncorked,’ a fundraiser at the Uncorked art space downtown for her friends. The UA Jazz Band has donated its time. A silent auction with $15 admission fee raised $800-$1,000 each year for three years, with the first donation to Akron Children’s Hospital and the past two years to the St. Bernard-St. Mary hunger program where a packed lunch is distributed Monday through Friday from the Corbett Center at the church.
“Her grandfather Larry Sutter organized the program for 20 years before his death in 2002.”
She is a 2011 graduate of the University of Akron School of Law, with an undergraduate degree in political science also from UA. She graduated from Central Catholic High School in Canton.
New shoes for children
Thanks to the generosity of Payless Shoes 4 Kids, a national effort to deliver $1 million worth of free shoes to children in need, 25 children who are in housing associated with Habitat for Humanity of Summit County shopped Wednesday at Payless ShoeSource at Summit Mall for new shoes. Each received a $15 gift card.
Electric wheelchair offered
Pat Beatty of Canal Fulton is eager to find a deserving person for a Pronto electric wheelchair that once belonged to her late parents.
This should go to a person in financial need. Please email me and tell me why you deserve the chair.
Family donates tools
Major kudos to the Horak family whose heart’s desire was to donate “lots of shovels, lawn rakes, brooms and the like” to those in need, preferably community gardens.
I received a truckload of worthy responses. The tools will be divided among the grounds crew at Blessed Trinity Church (formerly St. Martha Catholic Church) at 300 Tallmadge Ave., Akron; Happy Trails Farm, an animal sanctuary in Ravenna; and the gardeners involved in the Cuyahoga Falls Community Gardens, a startup group with 60-plus plots (they’re applying for nonprofit status).
Walking stick missing
Marty Franck, 72, a dedicated park patrol volunteer at Summit Metro Parks since 2003, is seeking the community’s assistance in finding his prized walking stick.
“The walking stick — which has 15 shields from Hiking Sprees and a green rubber tip on the bottom, was left in the Munroe Falls Park on or around Dec. 15,” said his wife, Christine “Tina” Franck.
He would sincerely appreciate it if the person who found the stick turns it in to a park ranger.
Marty and Tina, who walk the trails, recently recorded more than 1,000 volunteer hours. The Francks were recently notified by Della Day, manager of the park’s volunteer programs, that a tree will be planted in their honor and their names placed on a plaque at the Seiberling Nature Realm.
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or emailed at jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.