SWEET SLEEP AND EMI CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP TEAM UP TO CLOTHE MOLDOVAN ORPHANS FOR WINTER
EMI Christian Music Group Contributes Funds to Provide New Winter Coats for 1,040 Moldovan Orphans
NASHVILLE, Tenn. and CHISINAU, Moldova (Dec 8, 2005) -- Sweet Sleep announced EMI Christian Music Group (EMI CMG), the world's largest Christian music company, has selected Sweet Sleep for its annual Christmas charity. Each year, the EMI CMG staff gives away its annual employee Christmas party. This year, EMI CMG along with its record labels and publishing company, has partnered with Sweet Sleep to provide new winter coats to 1,040 orphans in Moldova – two entire orphanages. Sweet Sleep will hand out the new winter coats, along with some hats, gloves and scarves, when a team of Sweet Sleep volunteers visits Moldova in early January 2006 (Orthodox Christmas) to share the news of Jesus with the Christmas Story.
"With a climate similar to that of Minnesota, Moldova can be an extremely cold place in winter," noted Jen Gash, founder of Sweet Sleep. "Most orphans wear every piece of clothing they possess to stay warm in winter as they cannot afford coats. With the generous contributions from EMI CMG, its associates, record labels, artists and writers, there will be many warm and happy children in Moldova. We have been overwhelmed by the response from EMI CMG to this opportunity and the other needs there in Moldova. Starting with a modest goal of 250 winter coats, we have now received donations to purchase winter coats for two entire orphanages and are already working towards building beds for other orphans. This will truly be a wonderful Christmas in Moldova that these children will never forget."
Holly Whaley, Director of Corporate Communications at EMI CMG, added, "Our involvement with Sweet Sleep began when one of our employees returned from a mission trip to Moldova to ‘just hold orphaned children.’ Once we heard about the need in this impoverished country and the desperate situation these children face, there was a tremendous response among our staff, record labels, artists, and songwriters to make an impact. We have now literally adopted these two orphanages in Chisinau and Falesti. Our staff has also become involved in other ways sponsoring children, donating new beds, and even joining the Sweet Sleep mission trip in January. We also have a group of employees knitting scarves and hats by the dozens to send to the children in January. The Sweet Sleep organization and its mission has compelled us to action, and we are excited about sharing the spirit of Christmas."
About Sweet Sleep
Sweet Sleep is a faith-based ministry whose mission is to share the Hope and Love of Jesus Christ with orphans by meeting their physical, emotional and spiritual needs while giving them the resources to build strong futures. Sweet Sleep is affiliated with CERI (Children’s Emergency Relief International), in San Antonio, Texas.
Sweet Sleep has recently purchased a transitional living house for the boys discharged from the orphanaged and put out on the streets. When completed, the transitional house is expected to shelter approximately 12 to 15 boys at a time with a mature Christian couple from Moldova serving as houseparents. The transitional house will also serve as a staging area for those boys employed by Sweet Sleep in its carpentry and bed-building programs for local orphanages.
Sweet Sleep’s current fundraising campaign, Home Sweet Home, is in the midst of raising $215,000 for the program. The campaign has raised $55,000 to date, a portion of which was used to purchase the home in September. Construction is expected to begin as soon as the necessary funds are raised.
Website: http://www.sweetsleep.org
About EMI Christian Music Group
EMI Christian Music Group is an innovative and market leader in the field of recorded music, distribution, and music publishing. Established in 1994 following the acquisition of The Sparrow Corporation, EMI CMG now operates several divisions including EMI CMG Label Group (Sparrow Records, ForeFront Records), EMI CMG Marketing, EMI Gospel, EMI CMG Distribution, and EMI CMG Publishing. Led by President and CEO Bill Hearn and a strong executive team of long-time Christian and Gospel music veterans, EMI CMG employs over 250 people and has created a challenging and rewarding work environment characterized by a commitment to artists and songwriters, one another, and community service.
Website: http://www.emicmg.com
Sweet Sleep
Jennifer Gash
Executive Director/Founder
email: jengash@sweetsleep.org
phone: 615-481-4593
Home Sweet Home Campaign
Tripp Sullivan
Campaign Chairman
email: tripp.sullivan@cci-ir.com
phone: 615-481-4588
