NYC Second ChanceRescue Hosts 3rdAnnual Rescue Ball Gala

Honoring GeorginaBloomberg and Joe Gatto with the “Hero Award” and Dr. Peter Roufail, DVM for “Veterinarian of the Year”  .

NYC Second ChanceRescue will be hosting their 3rd annual Rescue Ball onThursday April 27th, 2023. The charity aims to raise critical fundsto help continue their mission of providing second chances to critically ill,injured, and abused dogs and cats.

www: www.nycsecondchancerescue.org | I: @nycscr |

NYC Second ChanceRescue is proud to be honoring GeorginaBloomberg and Joe Gatto, who will be recognized with the“Hero Award” for their dedication to animal welfare, and Dr. PeterRoufail, DVM, for “Veterinarian of the Year.”

The evening will be Hosted by Tony and Grammy Award-Nominated Actress and Singer, Orfeh With SpecialGuests Melissa Gorga and Constantine Maroulis. The evening features a vegan menu, specialtycocktails, live and silent auctions, and entertainment, followed by dancing tomusic by DJ GEO ROC.

Led by its founders JenniferBrooks and Lisa Blanco and Vice President Lisa Rose, NYCSecond Chance Rescue is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit foundedin 2009 specializing in rescuing and rehabilitating discriminated breeds,critically injured, neglected, and abused dogs and cats. This year NYC SecondChance Rescue is celebrating 14 years and saving over 14,000 lives.

With support from thepublic, NYC Second Chance Rescue can continue to provide criticalSecond Chances to animals in need. Why do we do what we do? Becausethey matter.

For more details of Tickets and Tables available please visit: https://bit.ly/3mtxfzI

Membersof the Organizing Committee for the event includes; Jared Epstein (Chair), JessicaPeters (Chair), Antonio Fuccio, Avra Hart, Barry Mullineaux, Bessy Gatto,Brandon Colon, Chris Reda, Dylan Lauren, Jenné Newton-Haydon, John DiMatteo, KingsleyCrawford-Smith, Kate McEntee, Marie Moody, Nathania Nisonson, Robert CadizSaldarriaga, Richie Romero and Shouka Amirsolimani.

About NYC Second Chance Rescue: NYC Second ChanceRescue is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2009. With thehelp of a community of donors and supporters, the Charity has saved over 14,000lives from an unimaginable fate. NYC Second Chance Rescue concentrates itsefforts on large breed dogs and animals in need of critical life-saving care.These two criteria make up most of the euthanasias in the United States. Nineout of ten animals that enter NYC Second Chance Rescue were once set to beeuthanized at a municipal shelter.

NYC Second ChanceRescue provides all levels of medical care and a healing and safe sanctuary forall pets through our foster care system and our Rescue Center. We do notdiscriminate on age, size, breed, or medical needs. We have a soft spot forpit-bulls, seniors, and hospice patients. We also love our community andbelieve that families should not be pulled apart because of financialrestraints. The Charity offers free food and critical medical care for familiesrunning on hard times. These programs help keep families together and belovedpets out of the shelter system.

www.nycsecondchancerescue.org (http://www.nycsecondchancerescue.org) | I: @nycscr | F: @nycsecondchancerescuedogsNYC Second Chance Rescue’s 3rd Annual

Rescue Ball   48 Wall Street, New York, NY

Thursday, April 27th, 2023

Cocktail Hour 6:00pm – 7:00pm

Please join us for a lifesaving evening Honoring

Joe Gatto  –  Georgina Bloomberg  –  Dr. Peter Roufail, DVM

Hosted by Tony and Grammy Award-Nominated Actress and Singer Orfeh

With Special Guests: Melissa Gorga and Constantine Maroulis

Music by DJ GEO ROC

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Listen to “Publishing Worldwide to Celebrate the Launch of Melissa de la Cruz Studio” on Spreaker.

Listen to “What is Peace for Melissa De la Cruz and Mariko Tamaki” on Spreaker.

Disney Publishing Worldwide Celebrates the Launch of Melissa De la Cruz Studio in New York City  

Disney Publishing Worldwide, book industry professionals, media and well-wishers came together for the launch of Melissa De la Cruz (MEL) Studio at a reception held at Versa in New York City with special guests Melissa De la Cruz and Mariko Tamaki, author of one of the first Melissa de la Cruz Studio projects, Anne of Greenville.

Notable attendees included Disney SVP and Publisher Tonya Arguto, Disney Editorial Director Kieran Scott, 3Arts manager and producer RichardAbate, Sloomoo Institute founder Karen Robinovitz, Overbrook Management CEO Andrew Goffe, author Gayle Forman, influencers Aaron Paul and Jean Shafiroff and gender queer celebrity author Jason June (who has a forthcoming book from Melissa de la Cruz Studio).

Disney Publishing Worldwide partnered with New York Times bestselling author Melissa De la Cruz to launch a 360 media and publishing initiative called Melissa de la Cruz Studio. Under this collaboration, Melissa De la Cruz works with new and established writers to develop new original stories, with the intention of this IP being developed into TV/Film content for The Walt Disney Company. Several projects from Melissa De la Cruz Studio are currently in development for Disney.

Accomplished author, Melissa De la Cruz is the founder and principal of Melissa De la Cruz Studio at Disney Publishing, which will create and package books in every genre and age range but with a special focus on middle grade and young adult, from a diverse group of new and established writers that will appeal to all the platforms across the Disney company for a global audience. The projects will reflect Melissa’s humor and taste and range from adventure, romance and fantasy to contemporary stories.

About Melissa De la Cruz:

Melissa De la Cruz is the #1 New York Times, #1 Publisher’s Weekly and 1 Indie Bound best selling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for readers of all ages. Many of her more than sixty books have also topped USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times bestseller lists and been published in over twenty countries. De la Cruz’s novel, The Isle of the Lost, the prequel to the Disney Channel Original Movie Descendants, spent more than fifty weeks on the New York Times best seller list, fifteen at #1. Descendants, starring Kristen Chenoweth and Dove Cameron, was the #1 cable TV movie of 2015, and #5 of all time, and its soundtrack the #1 bestselling album on iTunes. The series’ subsequent books, Return to the Isle of the Lost, Rise of the Isle of the Lost and Escape From the Isle of the Lost, were also New York Times bestsellers for many weeks. The Disney Descendants books have sold over nine million copies.

De la Cruz is also known for the Blue Bloods series (with three million copies in print), and the Witches of East End series. Her recent book releases include New York Times bestsellers The Queen’s Assassin duology, the Alex& Eliza series, and the Never After series as well as the graphic novel Gotham High and the Los Angeles Times bestseller The Birthday Girl.  De la Cruz is represented by Richard Abate at 3 Arts Entertainment and Ellen Goldsmith Vein at the Gotham Group.

Her Hallmark Christmas movies: Christmas in Angel Falls, Pride Prejudice and Mistletoe (based on her novel), Sense, Sensibility and Snowmen and Angel Falls: A Novel Holiday were top-rated movies for their Christmas season on the Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies and Mysteries.

29Dates, her YA novel about a Korean exchange student, will soon be a feature-length movie on Disney’s streaming service, Disney+. The Ring and the Crown, her YA novel about magic and royalty with a twist on Arthurian legend, is currently in the works as a series for Disney+.

Melissa De la Cruz is the co-director of YALLFEST (Charleston, SC) and the co-founder of YALLWEST (Santa Monica, CA), the two largest and most vibrant young adult book festivals in the country, attracting more than 30,000 readers every year. 

A former fashion and beauty editor, Melissa has written for The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.

Melissa de la Cruz grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. At Columbia University, she majored in art history and English. She lives in West Hollywood with her husband and daughter.

“Disney Publishing has been the home for many of my novels throughout the years. It’s a collaboration that has been long and joyful. I am beyond thrilled for this journey with the team, full of even more incredible opportunities, nestled within the Disney media powerhouse. It is a dream come true.”

For more information, please visit:  https://melissa-delacruz.com

To view the Photo Gallery for this event please visit: https://bit.ly/3eg0an6

(Photo Credit: Jared Siskin, PMC)

For access to a high-resolution gallery of selected images please follow this link: https://bit.ly/3elJACe

ABOUT DISNEY PUBLISHING WORLDWIDE

Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW) is one of the world’s largest children’s publishing brands, igniting imagination through storytelling in ever-inventive ways. As part of the Disney Parks, Experiences and Products segment, DPW brings the magic of The Walt Disney Company’s powerful brands and franchises, including Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, ESPN, 20thCentury Studios, Andscape and National Geographic, to fans around the world. DPW and its affiliates create and publish books, comics, magazines and digital stories both vertically in-house and through an extensive worldwide licensing structure. With a focus on audio and digital learning products, DPW also adds magic to story time with best-selling eBook titles, best-in-class apps and audio books, and interactive storytelling for smart devices. Headquartered in Glendale, California, DPW publishes books, magazines and digital products in 85 countries in 75 languages.

PRESS CONTACT (Melissa De la Cruz):

Norah Lawlor | Lawlor Media Group | www.lawlormediagroup.com

Norah@lawlormediagroup.com | Tel: (212)967-6900

F: LawlorMediaGroup |I: lawlormedia | T: @LawlorMedia

Melissa de la Cruz (Photo Credit: Jared Siskin, PMC)

Melissa de la Cruz, Mariko Tamaki (Photo Credit: Jared Siskin, PMC)

Mariko Tamaki (Photo Credit: Patrick McMullan)

Jessie Weaver, M

#mellisa #deLaCruz #mariko #tamaki #peace #anneofgreenville #afterlife #publishingworldwide #mellisadelacruzstudio

Edited by Ameer Webb

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Current research suggests that a reduction in breast cancer screenings at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to fewer early-stage and more late-stage breast cancer diagnoses in 2020 (latest statistics available) than in 2019, according to a study published by the journal JAMA Network Open.3

Many people experienced delayed or cancelled mammograms because of the pandemic, and these disruptions may have contributed to later-stage breast cancer diagnoses, when the disease is more difficult to treat.3,4

While mammography screenings rebounded overall by July 2020, the cumulative deficit of missed mammograms may have important public health consequences,5 including the furthering of health disparities.6

Since 2021, breast cancer diagnoses have exceeded lung cancer diagnoses, becoming the most diagnosed cancer worldwide.7,8

In the United States, it is estimated that about 287,850 women in 2022 will be diagnosed with breast cancer.9 Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the U.S., and this year it’s estimated that about 30% of all newly diagnosed cancers in women will be breast cancers.10

For those facing a breast cancer diagnosis, the treatment that follows can be challenging and time consuming. Additionally, the type of breast cancer a patient has — including triple negative, HER2+ or HR+ — impacts the type of treatment they’ll receive.

Dr. Ahmed Elkhanany, a breast cancer expert at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, will discuss the latest news surrounding delays in breast cancer screenings and some of the recent treatment options. A patient share her experience too.

Interview courtesy: Genentech

1 American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society Recommendations for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/screening-tests-and-early-detection/american-cancer-society-recommendations-for-the-early-detection-of-breast-cancer.html. Accessed June 9, 2022.
2 American Cancer Society. Survival Rates for Breast Cancer. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/understanding-a-breast-cancer-diagnosis/breast-cancer-survival-rates.html. Accessed June 9, 2022.
3 Zhou J, et al. Comparison of Early- and Late-Stage Breast and Colorectal Cancer Diagnoses During vs Before the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Network Open. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2789064. Accessed June 1, 2022.
4 Elek P, et al. Effects of lower screening activity during the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer patient pathways: Evidence from the age cut-off of organized screening. Health Policy. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168851022001257?via%3Dihub. Accessed June 9, 2022.
5 Sprague B, et al. Changes in Mammography Utilization by Women’s Characteristics during the First 5 Months of the COVID- 19 Pandemic. JNCI. 29 March 2021. https://academic.oup.com/jnci/advance-article/doi/10.1093/jnci/djab045/6184869.
Accessed June 1, 2022.
6 DeGroff A, et al. COVID-19 impact on screening test volume through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer early detection program, January–June 2020, in the United States. Preventive Medicine. 2021. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091743521001432?utm_campaign=11a0a4d458MR_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_source=STAT+Newsletters&utm_term=0_8cab1d7961-11a0a4d458-153427414. Accessed June 1, 2022.
7 World Health Organization. Breast cancer now most common form of cancer: WHO taking action. https://www.who.int/news/item/03-02-2021-breast-cancer-now-most-common-form-of-cancer-who-taking-action. Accessed June 1, 2022.
8 International Agency for Research on Cancer. All-cancers fact-sheet. https://gco.iarc.fr/today/fact-sheets-cancers. Accessed June 10, 2022.
9 National Cancer Institute, The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER). Cancer Stat Facts: Female Breast Cancer. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/breast.html. Accessed June 10, 2022.
10 BreastCancer.org. U.S Breast Cancer Statistics. https://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/understand_bc/statistics. Accessed June 10, 2022.

#breastcancer #ahmedelkhanany #pandemic #melissa #women #survivalrates #covid #delayed #cancelmammograms #cancelledmammograms #disruptions #genentech #screening #treatment #experience

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Each year, millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. Part of that reality may also include living with the stigma and negative attitudes associated with mental health care, which can pose a significant barrier for individuals to seek help.

The issues surrounding mental health also impact Soldiers serving in the Army Reserve. These men and women face the stressors that come with holding down a civilian job along with the responsibilities of school, family, and being a U.S. Army Reserve Soldier.

In order to help combat the problems surrounding mental illness, confiding in others can be a great comfort and help for those suffering from psychological health issues.

Helping address these issues with Soldiers is not only important to them, their careers and their families, but also to the nation and the Americans that they serve.

However, often those in the military may choose to try and handle these types of problems on their own. That’s where the Army Reserve Psychological Health Program can serve a crucial role.

The trained psychological health professionals who are part of this program are passionate about delivering world-class behavioral health services. They offer clinical assessment and referrals for mental health issues to achieve and sustain the most resilient and mentally fit force in the nation.

Colonel Melissa L. Mitravich, FHP-BC, MSN, MSS, AN, Director of Psychological Health Program, United States Army Reserve Command, Surgeon Directorate. She discusses how to break down the barriers and stigma associated with receiving mental health care, as well as how we can help assist Soldiers and their families.

Interview is courtesy: U.S. Army Reserve
usar/

#mental #health #awareness #month #may #reducing #stigma #surrounding #colonel #melissa #mitravich #psychological #army #reserve #command #surgeon #soldiers #care #families #usar

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The NYC 5K Schlep 2016: Raising awareness and funds for Breast and Ovarian Cancer

Battery Park NYC, Sunday, June 5th— On an overcast June morning, hundreds of people came out to support the American Friends of Rabin Medical Center’s Sixth Annual Cheryl Diamond NYC 5K SCHLEP Run/Walk for Breast and Ovarian Cancer. The picturesque scene at Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park drew schleppers, runners, walkers and volunteers of all ages and abilities to participate in a 5K race and walk on the Battery Park promenade, opposite the Statue of Liberty. Participants travelled from all around the Tri-State area and from across the United States to support the cause, some from Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, and even as far as Israel.

The Cheryl Diamond NYC 5K SCHLEP raises awareness of breast and ovarian cancer, and collects funds for cancer care and research that will lead to its eventual elimination. Breast and ovarian cancers are the most common cancers afflicting women in the United States and Israel. One in seven women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and over 22,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer annually. Donations and proceeds from the NYC 5K SCHLEP benefit the BRCA Gene Multidisciplinary Clinic which serves women at high risk of breast and ovarian cancer, as well as funding research to find cures for breast and ovarian cancers at the Davidoff Cancer Center of Israel’s Rabin Medical Center- a world class facility for the treatment and prevention of cancer with patients from around the world. Many of the Cheryl Diamond NYC 5K SCHLEP participants themselves have been affected by these devastating diseases. Some are survivors and patients themselves, some are family members of survivors and patients, and some are the surviving family members of victims of these terrible diseases.

This year, we partnered with JCRC-NY, Israel American Council, and the Celebrate Israel Parade, as the Cheryl Diamond NYC 5K Schlep took place just a few hours before the annual parade along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Many of our participants joined in the parade directly after the Schlep, making it a full day of generous support to important causes, and perhaps leaving many with sore feet but a feeling of his or her own contribution to causes greater than oneself.
Thank you to the following companies and organizations for co-sponsoring and supporting the Cheryl Diamond NYC 5K SCHLEP: American Self Storage, Celebrate Israel Parade, Central Synagogue, Congregation Emanu-El, El Al, Congregation Ohab Zedek, Genetech, the Consulate General of Israel in New York, 14th Street Y, JLL, IDB Bank, the Israeli American Council, JCRC-NY, NYU Bronfman Center, NYU Hillel, Shiboleth, Shleppers Moving & Storage, StorageBlue, and Tamid: The Downtown Synagogue. These companies and organizations contributed to the success of the NYC 5K SCHLEP in the weeks leading up to June 5, and in their support through generous donations, social media posts, email blasts, and in bringing participants.
Special thanks to Shleppers Moving Company and their President Jason Friedland for their donation of time, trucks, and general support at the Sixth Annual Cheryl Diamond NYC 5K SCHLEP. Their donation of services and the hard work of their team greatly contributed to the success of the race and its mission in curing breast and ovarian cancer.
The 2016 Cheryl Diamond NYC 5K SCHLEP was resoundingly successful, as about five hundred supporters donated or registered for AFRMC’s 2016 SCHLEP for research and treatment of both breast and ovarian cancer. Before runners and walkers took their marks, event sponsor, Warren Diamond, the husband of the late Cheryl Diamond, the namesake of this race, thanked the crowd for gathering and encouraged guests to continue to fight against these two devastating diseases by raising awareness and participating in events like the SCHLEP. Following Mr. Diamond’s speech, AFRMC Executive Director Dr. Joshua Plaut welcomed guests to the event and reminded NYC 5K SCHLEP participants, “We all know someone with breast or ovarian cancer: MOTHER. WIFE. SISTER. DAUGHTER. FRIEND. SURVIVOR.”

Dr. Plaut then surprised the crowd by introducing Richard “Rip” Hamilton, the NBA champion and former member of the Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls. He, along with his wife, T.J., a breast cancer survivor, inspired 211 schleppers, runners and walkers, by serving as a reminder that cancer has a real-life impact, but that it can be defeated. This speech served as motivation to keep fighting for cancer’s eventual elimination and to offer hope and encouragement to cancer patients.

At 9:15 a.m. the runners and walkers approached the starting line just as Dr. Plaut sounded the blow horn, and the Schlepping began! About 20 minutes and 30 seconds later, the first schlepper triumphantly crossed the finish line, Ilan Orgel, 16, of The Abraham Joshua Heschel School in Manhattan. In second, and the winner of the overall female category, Meg Pickarski, followed only 25 seconds later, at 20 minutes and 45 seconds, threatening to overtake Mr. Orgel until the very last second, as the crowd cheered them on.

Around 10:15 a.m. the award ceremony began, where Rip Hamilton joined Dr. Plaut in handing out prizes to the winners per age category, including the youngest participant who was only 18 months old! Awards were given to the fastest runner by age group and gender, the best fundraiser, the best fundraising team, fastest female overall, and fastest male overall. Mr. Hamilton then awarded T.J. her own Schlep medal, as recognition for her own fight against cancer. Top runners were given a top schlepper medal, plaque, and gifts such as a Fitbit and Life is Good Hat. The best fundraiser and the best fundraising team won tickets to a VIP tour of ONE WORLD OBSERVATORY at One World Trade Center, which includes a breathtaking view of New York City on top of the tallest building in the city.

Thank you to all of our schleppers, runners and walkers, volunteers and donors, for schlepping with us and supporting this wonderful event. We hope you schlep with us again at our next June 2016 Cheryl Diamond NYC 5K Schlep: Breast & Ovarian Cancer Run/Walk on Sunday June 4, 2017!

If you would like to make an additional donation for breast and ovarian cancer research, please visit the NYC 5K SCHLEP website at afrmc.kintera.org/schlep16 .

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The Actors’ Temple is proudly honoring those who have served our Community:
Edmund Gaynes, Awarding-winning Producer and General Manager
Kurt Peterson, Producer, Performer and Teacher
Eva Price, Award winning Broadway Producer and General Manager
AND
Mike Libien, Board Member of The Actors’ Temple, representing the Libien Family

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17th, 2014
Actors’ Temple – 339 W. 47th St., New York, NY 10036
Dinner at 6:00pm. Curtain at 7:30pm.
Dessert/Coffee directly after the performance.
Cocktail Attire.
Ticket Options
$100 1 Rear Mezzanine Seat and Post Performance Dessert
$150 1 Front Mezzanine Seat and Post Performance Dessert
$250 1 Orchestra Seat, 1 Dinner and Post Performance Dessert (Dinner at Da Rosina, 342 West 46th Street, 6:00pm)
$600 2 Prime Orchestra Seats, 2 Dinners, Name in Program, Post Performance Dessert
$1,200 4 Prime Orchestra Seats, 4 Dinners, Name under the Producer’s in the program, 1 Household Membership, Post Performance Dessert
$5,000 All of the above, 4 High Holy Day Tickets and 4 Seats named in your honor when the theatre is renovated. WE WILL LOVE YOU FOREVER!!!!!!!
Ticket Ordering
To reserve your ticket online, please go to our web store main page, click on the Events section, and click on the Song of Solomon ticket.
To reserve your ticket offline, please call for reservations at (212) 245-6975, where you will be able to pay with a credit/debit card over the phone, or have the option of sending us a check.
If you pay by check, please call us anyway to reserve your seat. Make your check payable to THE ACTORS’ TEMPLE, and mail it to:
The Actors’ Temple
PO Box 2620
New York, N.Y. 10108
The Actors’ Temple is a religious organization exempt from Federal taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law.
Tickets will be distributed at the event.
The Actors’ Temple is located at 339 West 47th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues.
Advertising
You or your business can advertise in our program:
• Business card: $150
• Quarter page: $250
• Half page: $500
• Full page: $750
• Back cover: $1,000
E-mail your ad as a PDF ready for printing (embedded images at print resolution) or as a single graphic at print resolution.
Send to: info@theactorstemple.org
Deadline for ads: November 8th, 2014

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For the rest of the story, go to http://goodnewsplanet.com/birdland/

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The post Melissa Kate appeared first on Good News!.

Melissa Kate, vocalist, songwriter

Melissa Kate’s musical career has seen her featured with big bands, jazz, hip hop, R&B and funk bands throughout New York State and around the world. She has traveled extensively with Taylor Made Jazz and the Armed Forces Entertainment, performing for our troops stationed around the globe, and for veterans back home. She has performed with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra at Kleinhans Music Hall for the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame’s Concert from the Heart in 2009 and 2010. She is the lead vocalist of the 18 piece George Scott Big Band, and a member of the historic Colored Musicians Club. Her two original albums, Blind Faithand Kissed by Kate, are available online at iTunes, CDBaby and in some record stores. Her live performance DVD, Kissed by Kate: Live at Allen Hallis also available on sale. Her website holds more details at www.MelissaKate.net.

Van Taylor, pianist, is the founder of Taylor Made Jazz, an international, award-winning jazz band that has played at Embassies and events worldwide, focusing its mission on using music to create peace between leaders, countries and people of all backgrounds. This has led Mr. Taylor to work closely with organizations such as our Armed Forces Entertainment, FIDOF, and to support non-profits and charities such as the Hunger Project, the Food Bank of WNY, the Colored Musicians Club of Buffalo, and other global initiatives. An artist developer, producer, jazz composer and publisher– and an excellent pianist, Mr. Van Taylor is someone with whom it is an honor and a rare privilege to perform, and to watch play. His support of Melissa Kate has made possible her original music, and the tremendous musicians that surround her.

Other members of the band are:

Richii Valentino, bass. Richii is a bass player from Buffalo, NY. His background in funk, soul and church music make him a versatile and soulful singer, composer and bass player.

Tim Webb, drummer. Tim’s experience with bands in every genre of music—country, church, funk, R&B, blues, musical theater and jazz—have propelled Tim’s skill on the drums to make him one of the most highly demanded drummers in the city of Buffalo, NY. His territory has expanded to Japan, Egypt, Toronto Canada and New York City. He is a compelling person, smooth and able to adapt to every song and style one might throw at him.

Ron Walker, Guitar. Ron Walker, founder of The Exoutics, is a guitar player with decades of experience in funk, soul and R&B. A master lyricist, his songs have topped charts many times over the years. He has brought his serious and intense style of playing, along with co-writing, to Melissa Kate’s songs. His style is embedded in the songs; Ron is a powerful performer and entertainer.

Names of the songs performed at Birdland:

**denotes original song by Melissa Kate and/or Ron Walker

Spain written by Chick Corea, Artie Maren, Joaquiin Rodrigo, as sung by Al Jarreau

Thou Swell written by Rogers & Hart, sung by Natalie Cole

**Just My Luck written by Melissa Kate, Ron Walker

**It’s Only Love written by Melissa Kate, Ron Walker, Van Taylor

**Soulmate written by Melissa Kate, Van Taylor

Rough & Ready as sung by Freda Payne, Alberta Hunter

**Midnight Snack written by Melissa Kate, Van Taylor

**After the Affair written by Melissa Kate, Van Taylor

**Friends First written by Ron Walker

**Western Jewel written by Melissa Kate

**Phoenix written by Melissa Kate

Never Loved a Man written by Ronnie Shannon, sung by Aretha Franklin

**Stand Up Step Out written by Melissa Kate, Van Taylor

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