ORLANDO CALLING MUSIC FESTIVAL HEADLINE ARTISTS TO SIGN GIBSON GUITARS FOR CELEBRITY CHARITY AUCTION AND RAFFLE

ORLANDO CALLING MUSIC FESTIVAL HEADLINE ARTISTS TO SIGN GIBSON GUITARS FOR CELEBRITY CHARITY AUCTION AND RAFFLE


Proceeds to Benefit Music Therapy Program for Kids Created by Joey Fatone and his Fatone Family Foundation

ORLANDO, Fla. (September, 2011) - The healing power of music is being put to work for children battling cancer.  The popular musical artists and headliners of the inaugural Orlando Calling, the weekend-long Nov. 12 -13 music festival in Orlando, Fla. featuring more than 50 acts including Bob Seger, Kid Rock, The Killers, Blake Shelton, the Pixies, and Los Lonely Boys, will sign four Gibson Les Paul guitars as part of a worldwide online auction benefitting the Fatone Family Foundation's "My Healing Harmony" Music Therapy Program at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, Fla.

Bidding begins on Saturday, October 1, 20011 on CharityBuzz.com, the leading online destination for celebrity charity auctions, for two of the specially signed guitars.  A third signed guitar will travel around popular Orlando hot spots providing opportunities for diners, event-goers and music-lovers to purchase raffle tickets for the chance to win.  The fourth guitar will be raffled at a VIP fundraising event at the Gibson Guitar store in downtown Orlando, Fla. the week of the Orlando Calling festival.

In making the auction announcement today, Melvin Benn, CEO and founder of the company producing Orlando Calling, also made a $10,000 donation to the music therapy program on behalf of the Orlando Calling music festival.

The "My Healing Harmony" Music Therapy Program at Arnold Palmer Hospital is staffed with a credentialed music therapist, and was founded in 2009 through a generous grant from Joey Fatone and the Fatone Family Foundation.  Through the use of songwriting, lyric discussion, music improvisation, instrument play, music and imagery and other Music Therapy techniques, the "My Healing Harmony" program aims to improve the quality of life of hospitalized children by providing opportunities for self-expression, socialization, relaxation and pain reduction.  Children can take part in expressive group or individual activities such as songwriting, playing instruments and performing and even record their own songs and produce music videos in the music studio.

"Music has always affected the human spirit in powerful ways. And, watching its positive healing power on these children fighting cancer is truly a remarkable experience," said Melvin Benn, CEO of Festival Republic who produces sell-out music festivals in the UK and throughout Europe and now Orlando Calling.  "I couldn't be more honored, on behalf of our Orlando Calling headliners and all of our inaugural festival bands, to arrange for this opportunity to support the great music therapy program developed by musician Joey Fatone and associated with such a respected facility as Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children."

"As a musician and a Dad, this music therapy program for children combines my two passions, said Joey Fatone, founder of the Fatone Family Foundation and current host of ABC's "Karaoke Battle USA."  "I am so grateful to Melvin Benn and Orlando Calling for their support and look forward to the support of all music fans around the world to help develop what music can do for these children."
"Our affiliation with and our grant from Joey and his family has been phenomenal, and 'My Healing Harmony' has really made a major difference in the lives of our patients," said Jeff Muddell, Foundation Vice President at Arnold Palmer Hospital.  "Our kids love this program, and we know it's going to grow and thrive, but we truly can't do it without the community and amazing support like this, from folks like Melvin and events like Orlando Calling."

For more information on the guitar auction and Orlando event raffles, the Orlando Calling line-up, festival tickets and packages go to OrlandoCalling.com.