Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlie Wendell.
Charlie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
A series of different events led to the formation of the organization. In 2010, after graduating from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Arts degree, I enrolled in a graduate program to pursue a degree in the music business. Simultaneously, I was interning for a hip-hop record label in Dallas called G4 Muzik. After two years of interning with the record label, my previous career goals shifted and I started working on a business plan that centered around how music could help people.
In the summer of 2012, I began researching non-profit formation and started restructuring my graduate school business plan to fit my new vision. After returning from a 10-month mission trip in Ethiopia, I relentlessly sought the means and steps to start a non-profit so I could help as many people as possible. I asked about 20 of my friends if they wanted to jump on this crazy idea I had of starting a nonprofit, and they all said yes!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has not been a smooth road, but starting any business is never easy. I think the biggest struggle for myself is trying to manage everything while also fundraising for our organization. We are extremely busy within the community which is a good thing but it’s challenging managing our 26 volunteers as well as running the business. But I can’t complain at all, we have the best team!
Tell us more about the organization.
The heart behind the melody of Hope is to be an instrument in supporting the causes of other organizations by raising funds and awareness through musical performing acts. We achieve this by hosting benefit concerts predominantly. Through our events, we can become an ambassador of these nonprofits and provide our local artists with a stage to display their talents. We unite passionate audiences with dedicated organizations to bring change to our local community. While using the stage to share the hope of Jesus, which we believe is the true hope in this world.
I think what sets us apart is the fact that if you attend a melody of hope event you can donate to multiple causes at one time. A lot of times in my field of work I hear people say “oh, I already give to that charity, I can’t give to another.” Of course, we would never want them to stop donating to that charity, but we want to create a place where people can donate to multiple causes at one time.
What also sets us apart is the fact that we are made up of mostly millennials. We know millennials have a bad reputation of being lazy or self-centered, but that is not our experience at all. We are 95% millennial ran and we continue to push more millennials to volunteer and donate to causes and they do! We are trying to make helping people as easy as purchasing a concert ticket. We are most proud that we can share the love of Jesus to our audience and help to be the hands and feet of Him in this world.
We have our biggest event coming up, Our “Hope for the Holidays Masquerade” presented by VarioHealth on December 7th at the Embassy Suites in Frisco. Our gala is an upscale black-tie event and a great opportunity to mix and mingle with 300-400 of Frisco’s community members, the music community, business owners, and a great opportunity for our attendees to hear about what we are doing in Frisco!
Hope for the Holidays is the only event fundraiser that we host for ourselves and all the money raised directly supports our mission to “let the music bring hope” as we raise money to build our live music programs into numerous nonprofit events in 2020. Tickets purchased helps MOH operate as a one-stop-shop to help impact multiple nonprofits under one umbrella. Your ticket includes a plated dinner, drinks, silent auction bidding, dancing and the opportunity to hear multiple genres of live music! Attendees can also bring an unwrapped toy for children ages 5-18 to donate to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Collin County! Their mission is to enable all young people, especially those in need, to reach their full potential.
Before the gala this year we will be hosting two pre-gala events to increase brand awareness, drive tickets sales for the gala, and allow our guests to come and get “gala ready” at two of our sponsor’s locations, Vitalize Medical Spa and VarioHealth Integrated medical practice.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t really believe in luck. I think God has blessed us tremendously and its a combination of hard work and not being afraid to hear the word no. I also firmly believe that your struggles and hardships are always a learning experience though and we have grown exponentially from our “bad luck”!
Pricing:
- $100 for our Christmas gala tickets
Contact Info:
- Address: 8804 Arbor Creek Lane
- Website: www.melodyofhope.org/gala
- Phone: 9729776064
- Email: Charlie.Wendell@melodyofhope.org
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/melodyofhope
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/melodyofhope
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/melodyofhopeorg
Image Credit:
Photo taken by Renit Lambert.
People in photo:
Brett Larson
Charlie Wendell
Chelsea Whittle
Lauren Eichler
Austin Wendell
Erin Flavin
Jason Young
Jessica Ormston
Kelsey Vigilante
Laura Lynn Peck
Kevin McKitterick
Kyle Witham
Ashley Chimal
Shea Thielemann
Corey Holmes
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