|
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 Shepard, 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. 100% of the money coming to Together We Can Change
The World from the release of this song is going back to the Ugandan orphans
who inspired its very existence.
 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.
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 My Power Mall - a powerful way to use your everyday spending
to make a difference in the world.
Start
by downloading the song 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??
Use the button below the video
to purchase the Together We Can Change The World song!
100% of the money coming to Together We Can Change The World
from the release of this
song is going back to the Uganda orphans who inspired its very existence.
|
