Youth to perform at Macy's parade
The World of Children, a group of 30 young people, will represent Butler County in the 80th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 23.
However, their appearance with singer Barry Manilow in the parade came as a surprise to the group.
It had been turned down for the parade earlier in the year, but just recently received a surprise invitation to attend.
The Butler group's members range in age from 5 to 19 years old. They use sign language to sing songs, although none of them is hearing-impaired.
"We were disappointed but we figured it would give us another year to work on raising funds for the trip the next time we had the opportunity to go," said Cathy Wagner, facilitator for the group, about the group's early rejection.
However, the Macy's Parade committee remembered the group from its prior performance, which played in their favor in the end.
"As we were putting the initial parade lineup together we could not find a place in the parade for the group," said Bill Schermerhorn, director of the parade. "The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is only three hours long and due to this limit and this year's fantastic elements, we initially did not have room for World of Children, although we liked them very much."
It wasn't until Manilow was chosen to star in the parade that the World of Children was considered.
"Once Barry Manilow was confirmed to appear singing the classic, "What the World Needs Now," it became clear in our creative development of the number that World of Children would be a great fit," Schermerhorn said.
"This year's parade marks our 80th anniversary and to help us celebrate the milestone in a big way, we have a great deal of elements we want to include. They will add a wonderful layer of heart to the performance."
So with just two months before the parade, World of Children got the news.
"We were so excited to be considered again and when we heard that we were to appear with Barry Manilow, we just couldn't say no," Wagner said.
But before they can get there, they have to sell a lot of pasta — the group is having a fundraising spaghetti supper on Friday to earn the money for the trip.
"We are seeking corporate sponsorships. In return, we will promote their company in our programs, on apparel and/ or on a sign at our performances," said Wagner.
"The amount that it will cost the group for our three-day mandatory stay in New York is approximately $13,800. The three-day mandatory stay includes practices Tuesday and Wednesday and the parade on Thursday," she said.
For the World of Children, this will be a return trip to the Thanksgiving tradition. The group appeared in the parade in 2004 with Andrea Bocelli.
The group performs in malls, nursing homes, private shows, festivals, parades, rodeos and schools to promote peace, hope and unity for children.
It was started by Wagner's twin daughters, Lauren and Meghan, who still remain active in the group despite attending Clarion University.
Because of the late notice, the group is in high gear, giving their costumes extreme makeovers and trying to drum up the funds needed to pull off such an endeavor.
"We are scrambling to pull it all together financially for this performance," said Wagner.
<B>WHAT: </B>World of Children benefit spaghetti supper<B>WHEN: </B>4 to 8 p.m. Friday<B>WHERE: </B>Lyndora Fire Hall on Whitestown Road<B>COST: </B>$5 presale by calling 724-234-2383; $6 at the door; ages 5 and under are free<B>INFO: </B>wocfamily.tripod.com or worldofchildren@zoominternet or call 724-234-2383
