Champlain College Concert to Benefit Operation Homecoming

VT Singer Gregory Douglass' Show Helps VT National Guard Families

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Gregory Douglass Coming to Champlain College

BURLINGTON, VT (11/24/2009)(readMedia)-- Champlain College's weekly student coffeehouse, The Grind Live, will host a special Dec. 3 concert with Vermont singer and songwriter Gregory Douglass. The concert will help raise awareness and funds for Operation Holiday Homecoming, a grassroots effort to raise the money necessary to bring Vermont National Guard troops home for the holidays.

Douglass, a favorite at local clubs, festivals, and campuses throughout the United States, will bring his evocative, alternative sound to Hauke Family Campus Center for an evening of music beginning at 8 pm. Opening for Douglass will be Monique Citro.

Douglass' numerous accolades include being a finalist for both the 2005 International Songwriting Competition and the 2004 Independent Music Awards; he was the winner of the 2003 GrammyFest Awards in New York City, as well as the inaugural performer on the American Red Cross "Save A Life Tour" in 2003. Douglass actively appears at listening rooms, clubs, festivals, and campuses throughout the United States.

According to campus organizers, while tickets are free, space is limited. A simulcast of the concert will be available in the adjacent Alumni Auditorium. Donations to support Operation Holiday Homecoming will be collected at the concert. The show is being presented in association with Champlain SGA, including GLBTQA, Champlain Cares and CHAMP. For tickets and information http://go.champlain.edu/thegrindlive

Operation Holiday Homecoming

Vt. Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin, announced Operation Holiday Homecoming after the 700 Vt. National Guard members left earlier this month for training in Indiana during the months of December and January before being deployed to Afghanistan. It is the largest deployment of Vermont troops since World War II.

While the troops have a week off over the holidays, they are required to finance their own trips home to Vermont. Shumlin spoke of the inspiring fundraising efforts that are occurring across Vermont to bring our National Guard troops home for the holidays. One of these fundraising efforts is being undertaken by Price Chopper. The supermarket has pledged to place Operation Holiday Homecoming pin ups at registers in each of its 15 Vermont stores. Customers will be able to donate to the effort at the registers and Price Chopper will match the amount given by Vermonters up to $10,000.

"It has been heartwarming to see Vermonters across the state join together to support our troops," said Shumlin. "Rotaries, school sport teams, businesses and children as young as nine years old have all been working to raise the money to bring our hard working men and women home for the holiday season."

Through these efforts, Vermonters have successfully raised over $150,000. Due to logistical concerns Adjutant General Dubie has requested that Operation Holiday Homecoming charter buses to bring the troops home instead of planes. While negotiations are ongoing with various bus charter companies, it is expected that the cost of chartering buses to bring troops home to Vermont will be slightly less then $200,000.

"We are incredibly grateful for the efforts that Vermonters are undertaking to support Operation Holiday Homecoming," said Adjutant General Dubie. "We are pleased that the fundraising is well underway and we look forward to telling our hard working soldiers that we will be able to provide an opportunity for them to return to Vermont for the holiday season."

Chartering buses rather then planes not only reduces the amount of money needed to bring our troops home for the holidays but also allows for an extended deadline. Donations will now be accepted for Operation Holiday Homecoming through December 11, 2009. If excess funds are received they will go toward the work of the National Guard Charitable Foundation to help guard families during the deployment.

To give to the effort please go to either www.supportvermontguard.org/donate.html or send a check to: National Guard Charitable Foundation, PO Box 683, Essex Junction, VT 05453

"We are incredibly grateful to Senator Shumlin and the generous donors who have already given to this effort," said Gen. Brigadier Jonathan Farnham. "The support of Vermonters as well as being able to come home for the holidays means the world to the troops."

Champlain College was founded in 1878 and currently has nearly 2,000 undergraduate students. To learn more about Champlain College, visit www.champlain.edu

CALENDAR LISTING:

Gregory Douglass in Concert, Hauke Family Center, Maple Street, Champlain College, Thursday, Dec. 3. Free concert with donations going to the Vermont National Guard Holiday Homecoming Fund. Performing with Monique Citro. Doors at 8 pm, show at 8:30 pm. Free, general admission advance tickets available. Space is limited. A simulcast of the concert can also be seen at Alumni Auditorium For tickets and information http://go.champlain.edu/thegrindlive or call 865-6416.