2nd Annual Give Thanks Give Life GospelFest - Los Angeles, California

Bishop Noel Jones

November 11, 2010


OneLegacy, the nonprofit organ and tissue recovery organization serving the greater Los Angeles area will present the 2nd annual Give Thanks Give Life GospelFest on Saturday, Nov. 27, at New Direction C.O.G.I.C. in Pomona and Sunday, Dec. 5, at the City of Refuge Church in Gardena. Performances at the free event include praise and worship with Vidia; the New Direction Mass Choir; the California Southern Third Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Choir; the L.A. Inner City Mass Choir; Gospel Music Channel’s Gospel Dream winner Melinda Watts; and Karen Clark Shear at New Direction C.O.G.I.C. 

Byron Cage, Lowell Pye, the Men of the City Chorus and a special tribute to the TNT Television show “HawthoRNe,” featuring Jada Pinkett Smith, for compelling storylines concerning organ and tissue donation will be highlights at the City of Refuge on Dec. 5, along with testimonials and music inspired by the life-saving experiences of organ and tissue donors and recipients.

According to OneLegacy African-American Community Development coordinator Ralph Sutton, The GospelFest will be one of several events going on in church communities nationwide in recognition of National Donor Sabbath, an interfaith observance to raise awareness throughout religious communities of the urgent need for organ and tissue donation and encourage participation in the ongoing Give Thanks Give Life campaign.

Initiated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 1996, the program encourages religious communities nationwide to focus attention on the benefits of organ and tissue donation. Sutton says this year’s campaign also hopes to form an alliance with the AME, C.O.G.I.C., CME and Baptist leaders to champion passing on the Gift of Life within their denominations. “We have had preliminary discussions with the AME and C.O.G.I.C. leaders in our region and are encouraged that a united front on this important health care initiative will be achieved,” he said.

Mrs. & Bishop Wyatts

“Our church leaders are aware that the need for organ donors is especially critical in the African-American community.  Locally and nationally, we represent the majority of people on dialysis and on the waiting list for a kidney transplant. But we lag behind Caucasians and Latinos in designating our legacy through organ donation, even though the best match for a kidney transplant is tied to ethnicity,” he continued.

“Our churches, as they have in the past and do to this day on other health care issues, can be vital in addressing this problem by actively including organ and tissue donation and awareness in its health ministry.  Is it unreasonable for each church to become a site for advocacy, empowerment and hope for those who are in need of a life saving transplant?

“We are thankful for the leaders who have participated in our Give Thanks Give Life campaign over the years and for the churches who have hosted the GospelFest including last year’s inaugural church New Philadelphia AME. Now, in this Thanksgiving and Christmas season we are looking to spread the word about passing on a gift that has already been paid for with the intention of sharing it with others,” Sutton concluded.

For more information on the 2nd annual Give Thanks Give Life GospelFest, or involvement in the Give Thanks Give Life faith-based campaign, call (213) 229-5672. The event is produced by P.L.B. Media.