IT’S BEEN SIX MONTHS SINCE THE DEVASTATING JOPLIN TORNADO hit the Southwest Missouri community including many dental offices. In this issue of the Focus, we bring you some uplifting stories of restoration and rebuilding.
Dentist, spouse have “instrumental” role in restoring Joplin school music program
EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Michael Fitterling was one of several members whose practice was located— and completely lost—in the medical park area near St. John’s Hospital. Dr. Fitterling’s wife, Margie, shared her diary about their experience of loss and relocation in the July/August issue. While the Fitterlings and their team have been working to get their new office up and running again, they also have been “fittingly instrumental” in helping their community. The following, told to us through an email “diary” by Margie, shares the story of how a connection to Barry Manilow led to a generous gift from “The Manilow Music Project” at a time of real need—a gift for Joplin that allowed the Fitterlings, and others, to look beyond their personal losses and help the community they love.
by MARGIE FITTERLING AUGUST 21
Garry Kief (Barry’s Manilow’s manager) and I have been friends since 1985. Following the first couple of emails I sent to family and friends [about the tornado], he responded to my email, asking, “What can we do for you.” After several days of thinking and seeing so many needs in our community, on May 29, I responded with the following email:
“Garry you’ve asked how you could help. I can’t think of anything we personally need. Our family is alive and we have our homes. We are fortunate to have good insurance cover- age and I think it’s going to work out for us financially. There are many not as fortunate as us in Joplin. I’ve been racking my mind searching how to pinpoint specific ways to help our community. On the way to worship service this morning ... it clicked! Our high school, one middle school, and four elemen- tary schools were destroyed/damaged. Music has always been a huge part of our family and our community. Would it be possible for the Manilow Music Project to donate instruments and music to our school district? As far as we know, it appears that the entire music depart- ment—instrumental and vocal—was destroyed. This would be a tremendous boost to all the people who have and will continue to share their musical talents in our community.”
I thought they might put a check in an enve- lope, seal it, stamp it and send it on its way. I would have been thrilled with that donation!
52 focus | NOV/DEC 2011
Then, there was an article in the newspaper on August 17 about the Back-to-School Teacher Rally. The last paragraph said that Barry Ma- nilow had sent a video for the teachers saying that he was sending a truck of new band instruments to the school. I was ecstatic!
Since then, things have snowballed. People from the Manilow Music Project got in touch with me about using our dental parking lot for a place to park their instrument dona- tion truck. This week I found out that Barry is donating $300,000 worth of instruments.
I thought, “They have instruments ... now they need music!”
I had read a newspaper article about the loss of the music library filled with sheet music (much of it is out of print). Music has always been an important part of our family and our community. We decided to have Fitter- ling Dentistry sponsor a fundraiser with 100 percent of the donations given to help the music department buy new sheet music. In turn, the Manilow Music Project promoted the instrument and monetary donations locally and nationally.
It is impossible to express my sincere gratitude to Barry and the Manilow Music Project for reaching out to our community with this awe- some and extremely generous donation. Each and every person that has responded to Joplin gives us the strength and courage to rebuild as a community ... filled with hope and dreams for the future of Joplin.
OCTOBER 17
It’s official: Barry is coming to Joplin for the instrument and check presentation ceremony! The date is still pending but he will definitely be here ... possibly next week!
OCTOBER 31
What an exciting week this was in Joplin! The Extreme Makeover homes (seven houses and one park renovation) was revealed on Wednesday (airing in February), Barry Manilow was here on Thursday for the instrument and check presentation and Habitat for Humanity started building 10 houses to be completed in 16 days.
All of this will give our community a boost of energy and enthusiasm as we look to the future of Joplin. Barry’s instrument donation will not only benefit current Joplin students, it will also create an opportunity and legacy for future generations of musicians. It was a thrill and an honor to be a part of all of this.
We were thrilled to present a check from the monetary donations in the amount of $8,320. That will definitely help the band, orchestra and vocal teachers begin to build their music library of sheet music. Thank you for your concern, your encouragement, your support, your prayers and your generosity! I’m ecstatic ... and still grinning from ear to ear.
To see related videos go to
www.youtube.com/ user/MODentalAssociation. Learn more about the Manilow Music Project at
www.manilow-
musicproject.org.
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