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By Johnny Jackson
jjackson@henryherald.com
Members of the People First of Henry County organization are expecting a responsive local turnout for their upcoming Christmas benefit concert.
The concert, dubbed, “If Every Day Could Be Christmas,” will be a sort of musical featuring recording artist Richie McDonald, said Connie Dodgen, a co-director with People First of Henry County.
McDonald, the former frontman of the multi-platinum country music band, Lonestar, is expected to give a mid-tour performance in Henry County on Dec. 19. The performance begins at 3 p.m., at the Henry County Performing Arts Center, 37 Lemon St., in McDonough.
Dodgen said McDonald volunteered to perform as part of fund-raising efforts for the organization, which provides social activities for the area’s young people with special needs.
“He has a huge heart for people in general, but he really has a huge heart for people with special needs,” Dodgen said. “I love that he is so humble. He sticks to his Christian views, and puts God first and family second.”
McDonald was the special guest judge this past year during the Sixth Annual Mr. and Miss Special Henry County Pageant, which is sponsored by People First of Henry County.
“The concert is more of an opportunity for our special needs community to get to see him again,” Dodgen said. She said she hopes McDonald’s presence also will bring more awareness to the area’s special needs community, and the services that People First of Henry County provides.
“We offer social opportunities that the kids would never have, if it wasn’t for our group,” she said. “We take those kids, and we raise their self-esteem.
“We take them and put them in a safe environment,” she said. “And we try to make them feel comfortable about themselves. We’re showing the community that they’re people first, and that their disability is secondary to that.”
Dodgen said people have been responsive to the benefit concert, as tickets are selling quickly. Only about 300 tickets remain for the venue, she said.
Tickets are available at $20 each at all Moye’s Pharmacy locations in Henry County, or at the official Richie McDonald web site, with an additional $1 handling fee.
“We’re also selling raffle tickets for six VIP passes to meet McDonald, receive a free CD, and get front-row seats for the concert,” Dodgen added.
A portion of the concert proceeds will go to support the organization’s activities, such as its Seventh Annual People First of Henry County Mr. and Miss Special Henry County Pageant next June.
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