Nashville, TN (February 8, 2010) —- Kanopy Tours announces the upcoming Bloom Tour 2010 that features Margaret Becker, JJ Heller (who has the Top 15 hit in the country with “Your Hands”) and friends.  The tour will run April – May and will provide an intimate evening of story and song from the heart of Becker, while showcasing the talents of Heller and friends.  The tour is being produced by MaxxLIVE and Patton House Entertainment, with World Vision sponsoring the dates.  Tour dates will be announced soon.

“I’m excited to get to be a part of the Bloom Tour with JJ Heller ,” says Becker. “I think it’s going to be a blast to be on stage with her as we get to connect with our friends, both new and longstanding, who share our love for music and helping people. When I’m asked to be a part of something that helps people in need, which is exactly what this tour is doing through World Vision, then that’s something I really do want to be a part of!”

“I have such a passion for excellence in the live show arena,” says Andrew Patton, President, Patton House Entertainment.  “Tying this group of musicians together with the MaxxLIVE  team is going to be exciting and rewarding.  We have had the pleasure of producing a number of tours in the past and this one should be one of the finest.”

With an illustrious career that spans twenty-three years and garnered eighteen albums, more than two dozen #1 singles, multiple Dove Awards, four Grammy nominations and seven Songwriter of the Year Awards, Becker, who has performed in front of over three-million people and sold over 2.8 million records, remains one of the most respected singer/songwriters in the Christian industry. Not one to rest on her laurels, Becker continues to receive accolades as her latest project, “Gift Of Love,” which was co-written with David M. Edwards, has been nominated for Choral Project of the Year from Worship Leader Magazine.  Since her debut in 1987, Becker’s professional, personal and spiritual growth has also allowed her to expand into other creative areas.  Over the years, Becker has contributed essays to a number of Christian publications, contributed to various women’s magazines, authored three books, has been a recording producer for such artists as Kelly Minter, Rita Springer & Ginny Owens, opened her own publishing company and is a much sought-after public speaker. Becker has served as an ambassador/artist for World Vision the past seventeen years, and was their first artist-associate in the successful artist associates program and in being such, has helped to shed light on the relief  to the less-fortunate provided by World Vision.

JJ Heller has skyrocketed to fame with her latest single, “Your Hands,” which was debuted on the Fox Network show, So You Think You Can Dance, and is currently in the Top 14 of Billboard/R&R’s National Christian Audience chart.  The song is from Heller’s third project, Painted Red.  Heller began her music career in the spring of 2003, and 6 years and 3 albums later her acoustic-folk sound and heartfelt lyrics have netted the Nashville-based artist a loyal following.  Heller is married to songwriter, Dave Heller, who is the co-writer of her hit single and in December 2008 they welcomed their first child, Lucy Love.

For more information on Bloom Tour 2010 please visit online at www.kanopytours.com

A GivStory by Mark Schultz

A few summers ago I was contacted by Family Christian Stores’ Foundation,  The James Fund. A non-profit organization dedicated to meeting the needs of orphans and widows around the world. They contacted me because I was also adopted and they thought that I would make a good spokesperson for the organization. They took me down to an orphanage in Mexico and there I met a husband and wife team that started an organization called Back 2 Back. They were the hands and feet for the churches and orphanages in the area, providing them with food and education.  I will never forget one of the girls there. She was giving us a lesson about kids and orphans.  During this lesson, she took out an ordinary piece of paper and asked us to visualize the paper being an orphan’s heart. She said children come to the orphanage and they are not like any of the other kids in their community. She then rips the piece of paper in half and says “now you are working with just this half piece.” She then explains that the children will want to go to school, but they don’t have the money.  She then rips off another piece of the paper. She gives several examples until she is left holding a piece of paper the size of a thumb print and says “this is what orphans’ heart will typically look like.” She said that each time we give to these orphans we are investing another little piece of paper back into their hearts.  

I thought to myself  “What can I do to make a difference?” I’m adopted and I have a heart for kids….

A few years ago my wife rode her bicycle across the country and I had always admired her for that. I thought that maybe I could ride my bike to help raise money for some of the kids I had seen. So, I called up my manager and told him my crazy idea. Before I knew it I was riding my bike across the country all the way from California to New Hampshire playing thirteen concerts along the way. At the end of the eight week tour we were able to raise a quarter of a million dollars. It was one of the greatest feelings of my life!

I have been doing music professionally for over ten years and I would call giving money to kids that really need it the highlight of my career.

 Most of the money that we raised went to the The James Fund orphanages, but some of the money was also given to World Vision. From my relationship with The James Fund I started to learn more about World Vision. I soon realized that they were also working within organizations and helping kids, orphans, and families. I thought “what a great ministry… I want to get involved.” I thought that I could help by playing concerts and helping to get children sponsored all over the world. It’s been an amazing journey. I was in the Dominican Republic a few months ago and was invited to a World Vision building that housed children with AIDS. The children were drawing on pieces of paper and smiling. Not quite the vision that comes to mind when you think about AIDS, but there they were smiling and happy. One of the teachers asked the students if anyone wanted to volunteer to sing a song.  A little girl began to sing a beautiful song in Spanish. The song translated in English says “God I Love You More Than My Own Life.”  When they translated it for me I was just floored because I realized that with AIDS, she didn’t know how long she had to live. I also found out that this child had an amazing dream, to become a doctor!  I immediately called my wife, who is a doctor, and told her about this sweet little girl. Her immediate response was “Go get her!”  So, of course we immediately signed up to become her sponsor family and are an active part of her life through sponsorship, letters, and encouragement.  I am honored to have the opportunity to be a part of her life  and to be a fan and advocate for a great organization like World Vision . I can’t think of anything in life that is more rewarding than giving hope to others in need.

To learn more visit:

World Vision www.worldvision.org

Mark Schutlz  www.markschultzmusic.com

Tell us your GivStory http://www.givmusic.com/submit-your-givstory/

That’s right, another FREE download! This time we are giving away a FREE comedy snippet from Jeff Allen.  Jeff is on a tour with a hilarious group of comedians called Apostles of Comedy. Their show is good clean fun for the whole family. Just watch the trailer below to see for yourself! Check out the tour dates below to see when they are coming to a city near you!

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