The multinational cast of Up with People is headed to Fort Myers, Florida. Up with People (UWP), which has toured to 38 countries around the world during the last 47-years, has announced that Fort Myers will be their first stop on their 2013 tour.
The last time that Up with People came to the city was in 1998! Up with People will live with local host families, perform two public benefit shows at the North Fort Myers High School on February 17th at 2:00 and 6:00p.m. and will complete hundreds of combined hours of community service in the area during their one-week visit.
Over the course of the next six months, the international cast of 120 young adults, coming from 20 different countries, between the ages of 18-29 will travel to over twenty cities in three different continents to make a positive impact through cultural exchange and volunteer work. While they live with local host families and engage in global education workshops, the dynamic young adults work hundreds of combined hours of community service in each city visited. The group has done all kinds of work, ranging from manual re-beautification and restoration, to interactions and cultural workshops with children and the elderly. The projects are selected according to the varied needs of each community.
While in Fort Myers, Florida, the students will be divided into groups of about 10-20 which will volunteer at six different sites throughout Fort Myers, namely the Harry Chapin Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, Quality Life Center, CCMI, Children’s Network, and HOPE Clubhouse.
“We like to see young, energetic people volunteer. Not only does it help us get much-needed food out to children and families, it also helps the volunteers learn about hunger in the community and how they can make a difference by donating their time,” says Joyce Jacobs, Associate Director of Harry Chapin Food Bank.
Lisa Cronin is thrilled to welcome Up with People volunteer at the CCMI Soup Kitchen, and says that “it is truly incredible the positive impact that the students will have on the Fort Myers community.”
Up with People will volunteer from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on February 12 and 13. Then, on February 17, they will perform the new Up with People show, Voices, for the first time on their 2013 tour, at the North Fort Myers High School.
Voices is a two-hour performance featuring both original and popular music and is a dynamic blend of feature soloists, full cast production numbers, fast-moving choreography and colorful costumes. The proceeds of the show will be donated back to the community and will directly benefit the Harry Chapin Food Bank, Lee County Alliance for the Arts, and Edison Festival of Light. The recipients were selected by the event sponsors, Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, CLK Festivities, Lee County Electric Cooperative (LCEC), and Sam Galloway Auto.
The media sponsors for the event are Renda Broadcasting, Waterman Broadcasting, and the News-Press Media Group.
Host families are still needed to host 60 of the international volunteers during their one-week stay from February 11-18. Simply provide a safe place to sleep, breakfast and dinner, and transportation in the mornings and evenings, and you can have the chance to meet someone from another country and make a lifelong friend! Please contact Lorna Murphy at 303-681-1295 or lmurphy@upwithpeople.org for more information.
Up with People is an independent nonprofit, [501(c)(3)] organization without any religious or political affiliations. It provides young adults an international and intercultural experience that teaches service leadership and uses the performing arts to deliver messages of hope and goodwill throughout the world. Up with People exists today to spark people to action in meeting the needs of their communities, countries and the world while building bridges of understanding as a foundation for world peace. For more information visit www.upwithpeople.org.
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