For almost a decade, Los Angeles Music Week has been
honoring musicians who have made significant contributions to the City
of Los Angeles through their artistic talents. In December 2002, Ms.
Margie Evans, president and founder of Los Angeles Music Week, recognized
Supreme Master Ching Hai as an artist and humanitarian and honored Her
during the Los Angeles Music Week Awards Reception at the Wilshire Grand
Hotel, where Master was presented with a crystal plaque and Certificate
of Commendation signed by James Hahn, the Mayor of Los Angeles. The
City further honored Supreme Master Ching Hai with a Certificate of
Commendation, presented by City Council Member Wendy Greuel at the Los
Angeles Music Week Presentations and Proclamations Ceremony held at
the Los Angeles City Hall.
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Media
report about Los Angeles Music Week and the City of Los Angeles
honoring Supreme Master Ching Hai |
Another of LA Music Week’s goals is to share with
children the importance of music and educate them about various musical
cultures. Ms. Evans not only recognized the artistic talents of Supreme
Master Ching Hai, but also Her great love for humanity as a whole and
especially for children by saying, "It was real when I saw Supreme
Master Ching Hai (in the Walk the Way of Love video) somewhere in Africa,
when I saw Her touching those kids who needed hope and the only hope
they have is through Jesus. She was there sharing with them. Some of
them had contagious diseases, but She didn’t mind touching them.
Most people today walk away from touching and helping the less fortunate.
Well, I think Her work is necessary. I think Her work is appreciated.
I think those bodies that She has helped heal appreciate being well
again. Her work is necessary, not only as a humanitarian but as a spiritual
leader."
Supreme Master Ching Hai has always been attentive to
the special needs of children, and has also encouraged children’s
education in the arts. In the past, for example, She contributed to
the Pasadena Boys Choir Scholarship Fund, providing countless young
people with the opportunity to attend music camp. Also, during her visit
to Armenia in 1999, Supreme Master Ching Hai generously contributed
to the country’s Hayer Cultural Foundation, an organization founded
by Nadezdha Sarkisian, an Armenian congresswoman and acclaimed singer.
The Foundation used Supreme Master Ching Hai’s gift in programs that
provide children with music lessons and instruments to further develop
their musical talents. In gratitude for the generosity and love shown
by Supreme Master Ching Hai to Armenian children, the Supreme Master
Ching Hai High School was named after her.
Another event through which Supreme Master Ching Hai
demonstrated Her care and compassion for young people was the "One
World … of peace through music" benefit concert, which raised
funds for two children’s charities, St. Jude’s Research Hospital
and the Starlight Children’s Foundation. In these cases, Supreme
Master Ching Hai’s generosity helped to provide care for critically
and terminally ill children.
Following
the awards ceremonies conducted by LA Music Week and the City of Los
Angeles, Children’s Day was held for local music students. On this
occasion, Supreme Master Ching Hai’s love was extended to the City’s
children through the contribution of a hundred "One World …
of peace through music" music books.
Thereafter, Supreme Master Ching Hai also contributed
$4,000.00 for music lessons and instruments for needy students with
musical aspirations. Please refer to the letter of appreciation from
Ms. Margie Evans expressing her gratitude to Supreme Master Ching Hai
for Her gift, in which Ms. Evans warmly extends an open invitation to
Master to visit the students.