267 8th ANNUAL GOSPEL MUSIC EXTRAVAGANZA TO BENEFIT VOLUNTEER

8th ANNUAL GOSPEL MUSIC EXTRAVAGANZA TO BENEFIT VOLUNTEER
Busy Benefit Recipient Hopes to Continue Educating Youth on Health

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 7, 2008
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Mary E. Glass, 615-898-5145 or mglass@mtsu.edu

(MURFREESBORO)—As part of MTSU’s celebration of Black History Month, the eighth annual Gospel Music Extravaganza Benefit will be held in Tucker Theatre on Sunday, Feb. 24, at 6 p.m.
The benefit will feature performances by choirs, vocal groups, solo singers and spiritual dancers. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for students; children six and under will be admitted free.
Each year, proceeds from the event benefit a local resident who is dedicated to community service, as well as helping to fund a scholarship program. This year, the Community Benefit Recipient is Karen Jordan.
Each member of the Gospel Music Extravaganza Committee suggests individuals who would benefit from the money and further enrich the community. The committee selected Jordan as the Community Benefit Recipient based on her need and good works.
Jordan has been a diabetic for more than 30 years and a dialysis patient for six years. Despite the loss of both legs to diabetes, she gives great amounts of her time and energy to community service, the committee noted.
Jordan is an adviser for the Smithfork District Association Youth and Young Adults Department and teaches Sunday school to preschoolers at Prosperity Missionary Baptist Church. Her participation in these activities has allowed her to share her experience and knowledge with young people in the community, but she now needs a handicapped-accessible van to continue her work since she can no longer use her car.
Jordan was born to the late Rev. John O. and Mary E. Jordan and had strong ties to the church from an early age. Her faith strengthens her, and she says she wants to teach others that they too can do all things through Christ. Despite life’s hardships, Jordan constantly tells family and friends, “It is well with my soul.” A fan of gospel music, Jordan is a regular at the Extravaganza and sings in her church choir. Her favorite song is the spiritual “I Won’t Complain,” which captures her attitude in life.
Jordan says she hopes to continue educating children and teenagers about health and diabetes. She believes that through this interaction, she can inspire them to overcome whatever obstacles God gives them with joy and to pass along the wisdom and hope she has found.
The program is still looking for organizations or individuals willing to donate or provide help. For more information, please contact Mary E. Glass at 615-898-5145.


IN BRIEF: As part of MTSU’s celebration of Black History Month, the eighth annual Gospel Music Extravaganza Benefit will be held in Tucker Theatre on Sunday, Feb. 24, at 6 p.m. The benefit will feature performances by choirs, vocal groups, solo singers and spiritual dancers. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for students; children six and under will be admitted free. Each year, proceeds from the event benefit a local resident who is dedicated to community service, as well as helping to fund a scholarship program. This year, the Community Benefit Recipient is Karen Jordan. For more information, please contact Mary E. Glass at 615-898-5145.

For MTSU news and information anytime, visit www.mtsunews.com.


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ATTENTION, MEDIA: This release was written by Claire Rogers, a junior majoring in advertising/public relations at MTSU. We request your use of her byline if you use the release in its entirety.


For a color JPEG of Karen Jordan to accompany this release, please contact Gina E. Fann in the Office of News and Public Affairs via e-mail at gfann@mtsu.edu or by calling 615-898-5385.

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