Boston Minstrel Company

CONTACT:

102 Litchfield Street
Brighton, MA 02135
617-787-2122
www.BostonMinstrel.com

Timothy McHale, Artistic Director

DESCRIPTION:

One of the great things about human services philanthropy in the vast majority of small-to-mid-sized charities, is their abundant creativity and quality of feelings — all the ways people devise simply to help others. The Boston Minstrel Company, for example, is an all-volunteer group of musicians who visit shelters, residential facilities and prisons, because they believe in the power of song to transform lives. Founded in 1991 by Tim and Jane McHale, BMC annually reaches 4,000 people, and has logged 15,000 volunteer hours at more than 500 events. WBZ-TV Ch. 4 has honored BMC in its “Heroes” community service series. Among many proofs of BMC’s effectiveness in changing lives is Melvin, a homeless person who sang with the Minstrels and enjoyed it so much he followed them to a second homeless shelter for another show. That night the Minstrels asked him to join their troupe, and since then, he has joined the Silver Leaf Gospel Singers, a 50-year-old professional group. As BMC moves into its 15th year, it’s time to hire an executive director, so Tim can focus on developing more material for growth and additional venues. Would you like to help make that happen?

(2005: HUMAN SERVICES: Well-Being)