Event supports foundation to bring music to Haiti

The fifth annual Haiti Worthy Cause Event for the Kako Foundation begins at 3 p.m. Thursday at Chester Park United Methodist Church.

The Kako Foundation is dedicated to bringing music education to the underprivileged children and youth of Haiti and the United States. The Kako Foundation is committed to offering the arts as an alternative to violence. It is the silver lining to the tragic kidnapping and murder of Kako, Rudy Perrault’s cousin’s 16-year-old son, which happened four years ago, in Haiti.

Since 2008, it has operated in Port-au-Prince, and the first U.S. group will be starting in Duluth this fall with Kako’s Choir.

Guest speakers at the event will be Rev. Dr. April Ulring Larson and Bishop Emeritus ELCA Rev. Judd Larson of First Lutheran Church in Duluth. They will be speaking about their son, Ben whose life was taken away during the Haiti earthquake.

To honor the mission of the Kako Foundation, the program is having a big child’s presence in the performances.

Highlights include Nettleton Worldbeat Drummers, Rudy Perrault and Elizabeth Nordell’s children playing piano and drums, a fifth grader reading her original poetry, 16-year-old fiddle contest winner playing, 8th grader and first place winner of the Minnesota Music Teachers Association Voice competition singing with her voice teacher.

After the program, Haitian food is served in the Fellowship Hall. A free will offering pays for the program and dinner.

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