Saturday, December 12th, 2009, 9:00pm
At Callahan’s

The Detroit Blues Society (DBS) believe that children are one of our nation’s most valuable resources. Today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders – civic, business and social. Alarmingly, approximately 13 million of America ‘s children live in poverty. Studies reveal that growing up in poverty can have an adverse psychological impact on a child. One of the adverse impacts is low self-esteem – a by-product of little or no hope for the future.

Each child has a choice of two paths to the future. One path leads to a productive life as an asset to the community. The other path leads to a life of dependency on the community for support. Without outside help, the path of least resistance is too often the path to a life of dependency.

The critical social issue is the identification and pursuit of programs, which will create or raise the self-esteem of children, give them hope for the future and help steer them toward productive lives. One of the best means of dealing with these three poverty by-products is through mentoring programs. Since it is not possible for all children who live in poverty situations to have the benefit of mentoring programs, alternative means of doing the job must be pursued. Fortunately, alternative programs exist. Toys for Tots is one such alternative. It is a unique passive mentoring program that provides a ray of hope for the future.

In an effort to assist America’s children, the Detroit Blues Society (DBS) is proud to announce that our December Meeting and Jam will be entitled “Blues And Toys For Girls And Boys”. It will be dedicated to the United States Marine Corps and their Toys For Tots program.

The event will be held in conjunction with our December Meeting and Jam on Saturday, December 12th at Callahan’s Music Hall (www.atcallahan’s.com), 2105 South Blvd in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Start time is 9pm and features the music of Jimmy McCarty and Mystery Train, The OPEN JAM begins at 10pm and everyone is invited to attend. All attendees that bring a new, unwrapped toy or that donate $10 will receive a holiday gift of a CD of their choice for each toy or $10 donation that they make. This is one of our ways of giving back to the community and saying thank you to our loyal friends. This is also our way of thanking our brave men and women in uniform for all that they do while serving in America’s honor.

Please make a child happy this Holiday Season by coming out and supporting this compelling, charitable cause. United States Marine Corps and Toys For Tots representatives will be on hand for this event.

The Detroit Blues Society (DBS) is a registered federal 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the blues tradition. It has as its primary goals to promote a wider appreciation for the blues by the general public and to serve the members of the Society. DBS provides members with the monthly newsletter Blues Notes. This serves to inform members and the general public regarding relevant news, schedules of upcoming events and profiles on our members. DBS schedules free blues jam sessions, usually on the first Sunday of each month, arranges discounts on merchant sponsored merchandise and administers an educational program. For more information visit www.detroitbluessociety.org.

The mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity is the fundraising, funding and support organization for the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. The Foundation was created at the behest of the U. S. Marine Corps and provides support in accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding with the Commander, Marine Forces Reserve, who directs the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. The Foundation has supported Toys for Tots since 1991. The objectives of Toys for Tots are to help less fortunate children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active role in the development of one of our nation’s most valuable resources – our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future.