Program Notes
Charity CD Project Inspires Listeners and Benefits MSAA
This holiday season, join the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) in supporting Jilladair Carlson, a music producer from Seattle, Washington, and Erik Kjelland, a singer and songwriter from Madison, Wisconsin, in a unique fundraising opportunity benefiting MSAA. Kjelland and Carlson have joined forces to write, sing, and produce Everybody Falls, a CD compiled to inspire not only individuals in the MS community, but all who listen.
The Everybody Falls charity CD project is the brainchild of Carlson, who came to MSAA through a listing on the website, "Volunteer Match" (at www.volunteermatch.org), where she applied to be a public education ambassador for MSAA. The public education ambassador program is a national volunteer program that assigns volunteers to speaking engagements where they talk about MSAA and its programs and services for the MS community.
After speaking with Malcolm Friend, MSAA's director of volunteer services, Carlson decided she wanted to do more than just go out and speak on behalf of MSAA. "Once Malcolm started to talk to me about MSAA and its mission, it was as though a light bulb went on in my head," says Carlson. "This is the charity I have been looking for. I like how MSAA helps to restore the quality of life for individuals who have MS."
In addition to wanting to help MSAA, Carlson also has a personal interest in MS, as she was diagnosed 20 years ago with the disorder. As a way to express her feelings about living with MS, she helped to write "Brighter," the title track to the CD. "I wrote the lyrics to 'Brighter' because I believe them. I believe that each person who has MS is a star and we are all special," states Carlson. "And yes, we do fall, but it is how we pick ourselves up — that is what makes us stronger."
Picking herself up is something Carlson should know about; during this project she has been putting in 18-hour days and even battling through some exacerbations, but this is a project she believes in. "This CD is a message of hope," explains Carlson. "I believe in this project and particularly the title track 'Brighter.' This is about never giving up and realizing it's okay to fall; there is a place to go and people there to help you along the way."
Carlson, a recording industry veteran of 26 years, used many of her industry connections to get Everybody Falls launched. "I have called in some favors," states Carlson. "But everyone I asked was more than happy to help, especially since everyone involved has some type of connection to the world of MS."
She even found a way to arrange a CD launch party, scheduled for March 2007, at the Guest House in New York City. Along with the launch party, Carlson put together a celebrity auction and was able to get some of Hollywood's stars to donate items. Guests at the launch party will have the opportunity to bid on items donated from George Clooney, Mary Tyler Moore, and Maria Sharapova, just to name a few.
Carlson has set some ambitious goals for "Brighter" and the Everybody Falls CD. "One is to raise awareness of MS and MSAA," says Carlson. "The second is to bring in two million dollars to MSAA through CD sales." In order to facilitate this, Carlson herself will serve as the distributor — which means that the CD will only be available online at www.everybodyfalls.com. To help fulfill orders and meet her goals, Carlson has a team of volunteers waiting to help, along with the equipment needed to ship the orders from her office.
"It was important for me that as much of the funds as possible go directly to MSAA. So other than the fees that go to Eric for his rights to the songs, there is no big cost," Carlson continues. "If we had gone to one of the large stores, they would have charged us a fee to have the CD in their stores. That extra cost is what I wanted to avoid. That is why it is so important that people who go to the website (www.everybodyfalls.com) to purchase a CD, also tell their friends and family about it."
The success of Everybody Falls will allow Carlson to embark on a second CD. "If Everybody Falls has the success that I think it will, there will be a second CD. This will be a compilation CD of some of the music industry's top artists," says Carlson.
For more information about the Everybody Falls CD, or to place an order, please go to www.everybodyfalls.com. Anyone without internet access may call (877) 783-7516 for more information. Everybody Falls costs $10 plus shipping and handling.
— Amanda Bednar
