The floods of hurricane Ivan in Sept. '04 hit western PA and Pittsburgh/Allegheny County extremely hard. Many areas were completely inundated with water depths reaching the second floor of buildings. Small businesses were wiped out and families (many with no flood insurance) lost nearly all their possessions. As the end of the year approached many families were still struggling to recover and children faced very bleak holiday celebrations.
The Network Of Hope was originally founded and headquartered in the Pittsburgh area to promote lasting change in individuals, families and communities. The Network immediately became involved in the task of flood relief and opened a relief center and warehouses to distribute household items, clothing and toys to those in need.
Donna Knapp, president of the Greater Harmony Chorus, Sweet Adelines International (and wife of Greater Pittsburgh Chapter member Gordon Knapp) conceived the idea of having a barbershop benefit concert for area flood relief and contacted Bonnie McKibben, Director of the Network Of Hope with her idea.
Given the go-ahead, Donna contacted local chapters of the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) to partner with the Sweet Adelines (SAI). As a result of Donna's vision and hard work, the benefit concert, "Coming Together In Harmony" was held at the Shaler Area Intermediate School on Dec.17, 2004. Performing in the show were the Greater Harmony Chorus (SAI), two SAl quartets, RAVE and Sundance, and three BHS choruses including, the Pittsburgh Metro Chapter, Steel City Harmonizers, Greater Pittsburgh Chapter, Three Rivers Chorus and the Pittsburgh North Hills Chapter, Harmony Line Chorus.
Karen Russell, of Funny Face Productions, and a member of the SAI Greater Harmony Chorus, gave a special "Mrs. Claus" performance. Frank Petroy of the BHS Pittsburgh North Hills Chapter was emcee of the concert and Joe KIug, also of the BHS North Hills Chapter, personally underwrote the production costs of the show.
Various small miracles seemed to happen the night of the concert. Just prior to show time, a check of the auditorium showed a less than hoped for attendance. Then almost at the last moment, hundreds of people showed up buying tickets at the door and the show opened to a full house. Show attendees had been requested to bring toys for distribution through the Network Of Hope for distribution to children of flood victim families. The amount of toys collected exceeded all expectations and would not fit in the truck rented for delivery to the Network. When the SAI and BHS people arrived at the Network the next morning they found a very distraught group of volunteers as all previously collected toys had been distributed. When the trucks of barbershop toys were opened there was much cheering and crying (tears of joy).
I know there are some who think the greatest moments in Barbershop occur after practicing for 52 weeks for six minutes on stage in hope of winning a gold medal to hang about their neck. I have never won a gold medal (and never will), but I was a part of that benefit concert and would not trade that experience for any gold medal. This was Barbershopping (SAI & BHS) at it's finest.