The Gift: Tickets to the Grammy Awards
The Cause: Children's Wish Foundation of Canada
A couple of years ago, Calgary musician Rich Clark garnered a unique opportunity: He was named a voting member of the Recording Academy, allowing him to vote for Grammy winners and attend the annual music award ceremony in Los Angeles.
Mr. Clark, who is also a financial adviser with RBC Dominion Securities, went to his first Grammys gala in 2009. "It was just a phenomenal experience," he recalled. "They put you up at the Biltmore Hotel, which is where they hosted the Oscars back in the 1930s, and then you get shuttled right to the red carpet and you stroll the red carpet into the Grammys."
On his way home, he thought about using the event for something else. He asked the academy if he could get some extra tickets for the ceremony to give to the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada.
"I just thought, here's an opportunity to take somebody whose going through a tough time," he said.
The academy agreed and the charitable foundation contacted 13-year old Angie Lee, who lives near Edmonton and has leukemia.
"When I found out I would actually be going to the Grammy's, it was the happiest day of my life!" Ms. Lee said in a letter to the academy.
"Music is my life, and to see people that you only see on TV or in magazines is unbelievable!"
At first, Mr. Clark had only enough tickets to take Ms. Lee and three family members, leaving her father behind. When he asked if he could get one more ticket, the academy agreed. Organizers also covered flights, hotel, a hair stylist and makeup. The Lees and Mr. Clark attended the Jan. 31 gala; the family "was just so excited," he said.
He plans to make this an annual event and the academy has already agreed to donate tickets to next year's Grammys.
"It's pretty neat to be able to brighten someone's day and allow them to stroll the red carpet into the Grammys."