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There are times when a song is just written. And then there are the times when the story of a song is as powerful as the song itself. This is one of those times.
The Together We Can Change The World song encompasses a 15 year old befriended by an author almost 16 years ago, who in time became her adopted "big sister." It pulls in the dream of a woman with a passion to change the world who started a company called Together We Can Change The World in 2001. It travels across the globe to a village in Uganda where a dream to bring a choir to America was birthed in 2005. It takes an interesting turn when the "Big Sister" - now the CEO & Founder of Together We Can Change The World reconnects with the 15 year old (now turned 31) in the mountains above San Diego in September of 2007, and "meets" the Ugandan orphans through pictures and a music CD. Then it becomes even more interesting on December 3, 2007 when two people with a passion to make a difference meet on the telephone from different coasts and form a strong connection and bond. Here's where I will pick up the story in more depth.
My name is Ginny Dye. I am the Founder & CEO of Together We Can Change The World. On December 3, 2007, I had the privilege of meeting Bill Rodman, the Founder of 4e Productions, and a former executive producer for ESPN. I instantly knew I had found a kindred soul and for 30 minutes we shared our dreams and visions for the difference we could make in the world. The next day I flew to Atlanta on business.
While there I received a call from Mike Casale, a close friend of Bill's. "I have something to bring to you," he stated mysteriously. "I'd like to drop by your hotel."
 He was there within 30 minutes. During his visit, he opened up his computer and said, "I have something Bill sent to you to hear." As he was booting his computer up, he continued, "Bill had his friend, Mark Sheperd, write this song for you."
That was my first introduction to the song, Together We Can Change The World. I was equally blown away that Bill had had the song written for me as I was by the song itself. Even in its very rough performed by Mark Sheperd on his guitar in his living room, I knew I loved it.
Bill had a complete vision of what the song could become and made it his personal mission to bring it to life. In the very beginning he told me he envisioned it being  sung by a 12 year old named Rilee O'Neill. I heard her sing and was instantly enchanted with her pure voice and heart. Then he took it a step further during a conversation we had one day. "Ginny, what I really see is this song being sung with an entire choir - forming a song to spread through the world. Wouldn't it be awesome?!"
I smiled on my end of the phone, sensing another miracle moment about to happen. "It would be awesome. And… I just happen to have a choir coming."
"What?!"
I had not told Bill about the decision I had made just 10 days prior to bring the Ugandan choir my "little sister," Carrie Harless, was involved with to America for a 6 month tour. Carrie and I had just finalized our decision in the end of November. I would pay the $60,000+ it would take to bring the SIFA Choir to America for 6 months knowing they would generate far more than that to return home to build an orphanage and school for hundreds of children orphaned by the spread of AIDS through Uganda. Instead of just sending money I had decided to "seed" the money in order to produce more, plus give a life changing experience to the 20 kids who would come.
Bill's excitement exploded and his vision expanded with the same force. He swung into action to make his vision a reality, pouring his heart, time and money into making this dream come true. While I was doing everything necessary for the SIFA Choir to come, and while Carrie was working tirelessly to prepare for the tour, Bill was working behind the scenes to make this song happen.
During the first month of the SIFA Choir Tour, the kids journeyed to Connecticut and spent days in the studio producing this song, and also their new CD. Bill was the Executive Producer and was joined by his very talented friend, Joe Mennonna who arranged and produced the entire project - falling in love with the kids along the way (as does everyone who meets them!).
  Rilee O'Neill formed a strong bond with the 20 Ugandan children as they danced and sang their way through the song. All of the kids caught more of a vision of just how powerfully they could be used to change the world with the gifts they have been given.
There's more to the story, though. During my conversations with Bill, I met his good friends Robin Desjardins and Steve Gibbs of First Image TV. One day when we were talking about the SIFA Choir, Robin blurted out, "I'm going to do a documentary on Carrie and the kids, and I'm traveling to Uganda with Carrie to pick them up!"
And, yes, she did just that; and along the way First Image produced the video you have viewed as a gift to Together We Can Change The World. Wow! The documentary will be coming at a later date.
As we release this video and song, the SIFA Choir has been in America almost 4 months. During that time they have traveled through Virginia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, North Carolina, Georgia, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas & Colorado - and have stolen the hearts of everyone they have met. With 2 full months of travel still ahead, they have already raised close to $100,000 to take back to Uganda to lift more children from poverty and give them a chance to make their own dreams come true.
This song continues that mission.
 It's more than that, though. Our hope is that you choose to use this song as your own song of a personal commitment to make a difference in the world. And, as you make that commitment, the team here at Together We Can Change The World has made our own commitment to give you everything you need to do just that.
We have launched our 5 Million For Change Campaign, giving everyone who raises their hand to join us a FREE membership into the Together We Can Change The World Association – providing you with all the resources we have ever created!
Through Together We Can Change The World Publishing, you have FREE access to 11 E-books, each filled with 101 Ways to Change The World - for a total of over 1100 ways YOU can make a difference in the world.
We have created Together We Can Change the World Day - proclaiming the first Saturday of every month as T-Day, with a goal of mobilizing millions around the world every month to make a difference in their communities.
We have created videos & E-cards for you to share with friends and family. And, yes, they are all FREE.
We have even created the 5 Million For Change Online Shopping Mall - a powerful way to use your everyday spending to make a difference in the world, as well as earn automatic rebates on every purchase you make.
Start by downloading the song (our gift to you if you join 5 Million For Change) and making a personal commitment to use your life to make a difference in the world. Once you have downloaded it, you'll be able to check out all the resources we are giving you to empower you to help change the world.
The team here at Together We Can Change The World truly does believe that millions of like-minded people - all with the goal to make a difference - can CHANGE THE WORLD!
Will you join us??
You can download this song for FREE, just by joining 5 Million For Change and receiving a FREE membership into the Together We Can Change The World Association!
For information on licensing the use of this song or buying sheet music, as well as all the other wonderful songs 4-E Production has created, please visit www.4EProductions.com. Ask for Bill Rodman and tell him Ginny sent you!
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