“God, this is for you, not for us.”
Matt Marino was off-stage when he said that prayer before taking the stage to perform. Last night, Jillian Kelly, owner of Retro-tique, hosted Marino and his group as they performed Broadway covers to raise awareness and collect donations for the Monongalia Child Advocacy Center.
Amber Higgins, awareness and development coordinator, represented Child Advocacy Center to inform those in attendance about the non-profit organization’s mission, which is to “promote a coordinated response that is compassionate, efficient and puts the needs of children who are victims of abuse first.”
Marino reached out to the director of Child Advocacy Center, Dr. Capage, to express his interest in raising awareness for the organization. Marino said he is simply doing “God’s work” and helping the children.
Higgins said she is personally a survivor of sexual abuse and being able to help people like her has been her biggest motivation.
“This position gives me the opportunity to be the person that I needed whenever I was younger and going through [something like I did],” Higgins said. “It makes a huge difference when we educate and arm these kids with the knowledge to protect themselves.”
Performers Mike Hamilla, Courtney Harkins and Kaleb Oswald were all excited to put on the show and to support a good cause.
Monica Kramer, another performer, said being able to perform is “invigorating.”
“Everything in me feels so good because it’s helping so many kids,” Kramer said.
Marino said that his favorite part was all the work that went into the show. He said the community and the amount of donations made him grateful, from the food donations to the performers donating their time.
Marino is also on the autism spectrum, and he said being able to perform in front of a crowd is something he struggles with at times. But being able to use his talent helps him break out and embrace his fears.
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