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ANTHONY KEARNS/F.C.J. BUNCLODY MUSIC FUND
From April 7th to April 15, 2001, the Senior Band of F.C.J. Secondary School, Bunclody, Ireland, visited the United States at the invitation of the Mount Saint Charles Academy in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. As a past pupil of F.C.J. Bunclody, Anthony Kearns graciously offered to sing with the Band at two of the concerts taking place during that week long cultural exchange. Proceeds from those performances went to the Bunclody Band. It was the April 8, 2001 concert that became the inspiration for the founding of the Anthony Kearns/F.C.J. Bunclody Music Fund. Priscilla Horst, a native Rhode Islander and a member of the audience that evening, recognized the made-to-order ingredients: young student musicians playing their hearts out, a talented and enthusiastic band leader, a school music program, an F.C.J. Bunclody Band alum who had "made good" on an international level, and an adoring audience. Added to the mix was the knowledge that Anthony had an ardent fan base that "congregated" both on the internet and at Anthony's concerts. Clearly, establishing a Music Fund that would provide financial assistance to the F.C.J. Bunclody Band was a success story that was waiting to happen!
May 14, 2001
The Anthony Kearns/F.C.J. Bunclody Music Fund is established with a $300 donation that is designated to remain in the bank account to ensure service-charge-free banking.
June 15, 2001
Announcement is made to all appropriate on-line fan sites that the Anthony Kearns/F.C.J. Bunclody Music Fund is up and running. Donations in honour of Anthony's 30th birthday on August 17th are encouraged.
July 27, 2001
$1,000 birthday cheque is presented to Anthony at a concert at the Grand Hotel in Wicklow, Ireland. Anthony, in turn, presents the cheque to Gearoid Grant, Music Director of F.C.J. Bunclody Band.
Sept. 5, 2001
The Anthony Kearns/F.C.J. Bunclody Music Fund website is launched @ www.anthonykearnsmusicfund.com. Webmaster: Marie Collins.
Oct. 4, 2001
Anthony Kearns donates $1,000 to the Music Fund with the hope that it will encourage others to contribute.
Nov. 4, 2001
"Holiday Matching Challenge" campaign begins. As a memorial to her parents, Maryanna Fournier offers to match up to $4,500 in donations as a Christmas gift to Anthony.
Dec. 13, 2001
Music Fund Steering Committee meets in Bunclody, Ireland, to establish guidelines as to how it will allocate collected funds before working on any specific expenditure.
Dec. 31, 2001 -
"Holiday Matching Challenge" exceeds its goal. Total raised: $10,100.
Feb. 9, 2002
Formal process begins between the Anthony Kearns/F.C.J. Bunclody Music Fund and the Milton A. Kramer Law Clinic (on a pro-bono basis) at Case Western Reserve University. Goal: Incorporate the Music Fund as a non-profit organization and apply for 501 (c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service.
Mar. 17, 2002
"Share the Music" campaign is launched by anthonyjkearnstenor fan group of Yahoo Groups as a 31st birthday gift to Anthony. Campaign to end on August 17, 2002.
May 14, 2002
The Anthony Kearns/F.C.J. Bunclody Music Fund celebrates its first birthday! For a total cost of $321.38 which covers office supplies, postage and website services, the Music Fund raised $13,726.35 in one year. Because of the Music Fund's overwhelming success, the Steering Committee in Ireland is thinking about using the money to create an endowment fund. In this way, interest rather than principal would be used for financial assistance, thereby ensuring support that is permanent and lasting.
May 14, 2002
Dear Friends of the Music Fund,
I would like to thank each of you who has helped make this first year a banner year for the Anthony Kearns/F.C.J. Bunclody Music Fund. Without everyone working together the Fund would not be where it is today. I extend special thanks to Eileen Martin, Secretary of F.C.J. Secondary School, Bunclody, for her extraordinary help in making this international effort a reality. Additionally, I would like to thank Marie Collins for her skill and patience in setting up the Music Fund website at www.anthonykearnsmusicfund.com. To all of you who have sent donations, spoken words of encouragement, shared ideas and offered friendship, I send warm hugs with the hope that we can do more of the same in the years to come.
Thank you all.
Godspeed,
Priscilla ("Cilla") Horst, Administrator
Anthony Kearns/F.C.J. Bunclody Music Fund
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A Look Back on its First Year
May 14, 2001 - May 14, 2002
