Raise Your Voice
4 charities. 5 concerts.
10 performances.
50+ young performers.
$64,000 raised.
Raise Your Voice 2
Dir. Tess Fouchi
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Performed in November 2019, RYV 2 raised over $6,000 for The Henry Aucoin Foundation.
Raise Your Voice 3
Dir. Tess Fouchi
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Performed in November 2020, RYV 3 raised over $10,000 for Angel's Place.
Raise Your Voice 4
Dir. Christian Collins
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Performed in January 2022, RYV 4 raised over $27,500 for The Good Shepard School.
Raise Your Voice 5
Dir. Savannah Fouchi
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Performed in October 2022, RYV 5
raised over $18,000 for Covenant House.
The Story
In 2015, I was a part of a small charity concert titled Raise Your Voice that raised $2,500 for the New Orleans chapter of Covenant House. I remember feeling so fulfilled and amazed that nine young kids could make such a difference just by doing what we loved. Years went by, and I never forgot that feeling and always knew that I wanted to grow the project into something even bigger. I saw the potential in the concept and having the resources of Encore Dance Studio and Rivertown Theaters at my fingertips, it was almost too easy to bring Raise Your Voice back.
The Comeback
In 2019, I recruited 26 of my performer friends, picked out a set list, and got to work on Raise Your Voice 2. Seven of the original performers, and the woman who created the first show, were able to participate in the shows I produced and it was so special to have them there by my side through the whole process.
The Momentum
Raise Your Voice 3 was even bigger and more successful than the previous one. Since word has spread, more young performers were enthusiastic about being a part of the efforts, so we doubled our cast size from the second to the third show. With 40 performers, we raised $10,000 for Angel’s Place, a charity dedicated to providing families with children facing life-threatening diseases with support services.
The Legacy
Once I graduated high school and left New Orleans for college, I passed the baton to my best friend Christian Collins and my sister Savannah Fouchi to continue the legacy. Both of them had been in the original Raise Your Voice with me and knew how to make their concerts successful while staying true to what Raise Your Voice is all about. I flew home for the weekend to make a cameo in their shows and just beamed with pride to see what they had done with the show's legacy. I can’t express how much these experiences mean to me. Not only have I been able to give back to the community, but I was personally fulfilled doing something I love with all of my friends. It’s been a truly remarkable experience and I’m so grateful for my community of artists and audience members who joined forces with me to give back. These endeavors have helped me develop creative, leadership, entrepreneurial, and fundraising skills that I know I'll use and carry with me for the rest of my life.
