Community Corner
Choir Festival Raises $2000 for SPF Rescue Squads
The Fanwood Presbyterian Church Choir Festival raised more than $2,000 for local rescue squads.
The Fanwood Presybterian Choir Festival has once again proven to be a resounding success, raising $2,155 in donations for the SPF Rescue Sqauds. The event took place on Sunday, May 20, and coincided with National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week.
National EMS Week was first proclaimed by President Gerald Ford in 1974 to acknowledge the work of EMTs, paramedics and first responders for their crucial work in caring for the sick and injured.
Scotch Plains Rescue Squad Dan Sullivan expressed his gratitude, stating that he already knows how the donations will be used.
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“The Scotch Plains Rescue Squad will be using the proceeds to offset the cost of our new Rehabilitation Vehicle,” said Dan Sullivan, Captain. “We are eternally grateful to the Fanwood Presbyterian Church and the members of the Fanwood Choir Festival for the recent event.”
Tom Kranz, captain of the Fanwood Rescue Squad, said the funds will be used for new communications equipment and general operating expenses.
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“I can't tell you how much we appreciate your efforts," Kranz said. "The concert was absolutely fantastic, with such a professional sound...it actually gave me goosebumps.”
The Fanwood Choir Festival featured singers from Scotch Plains, Fanwood, and other communities, as well as guest conductors. The concert included the music of Brahms, Lewandowski, Rutter, Faure, and Courtney, inspiring audience members as well as the musicians involved.
“My husband Toshi and I are longtime members of the SPF community, and we greatly admire the work of the Rescue Squad, so this concert was a way to support their work,” said Carolyn Gibson, who is also Assistant Principal of The Pingry Lower School in Short Hills.
Gibson also described her experience singing in the festival, as "spirtually uplifting," praising the work of Music Director Tom Berdos.
“As a bonus, our son Masayuki, a 1998 SPFHS graduate, coached us and lent his trained voice to the church bass section," Gibson added. "We thank Tom and the church for letting an outside family ‘crash the party’ of good fellowship to raise our voices in sacred music.”
For more information or to participate in future FPC concerts, please contact Tom Berdos at tom.berdos@gmail.com or (908) 889-8891, ext. 17. To learn more about National EMS Week, visit http://www.facebook.com/National.EMS.Week#.
