John Moschitta Jr.: I’d like to move into a very important part of our program this evening. We have with us tonight representatives from two highly respected organizations that are well known for their commitment and leadership in serving our children. I would like to take this moment to invite Mr. Marc Cohen, President of the Starlight Children’s Foundation, and Ms. Shoshana Grammer and Mr. Mike Driebe of St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital to please come up to the stage.
Marc Cohen: Thank you very much. I’m Marc, by the way, in case there’s any confusion. We are delighted to be a part of the celebration on behalf of the Starlight Children’s Foundation, and part of “One World Peace through Music.” The Starlight Foundation has spent the past 15 years dedicated to brightening the lives of seriously ill children all across the globe. We are gratified to be part of the Supreme Master Ching Hai [International] Organization and your donation to us. Starlight Foundation helps on an annual basis over 500,000 seriously ill children. We work with over 57,000 children per month across the globe. We currently have 400 Fun Centers, which is a unit that is in hospitals all across the country that allows children who are in a hospital bed to be entertained by a VCR and Nintendo. And for those children that are unable to get out of their beds, it’s wheeled from bed to bed. Additionally, we have Starlight Rooms here in Los Angeles. Three different Centers: one at Long Beach Miller Memorial, downtown at County USC, and at UCLA. Those rooms provide entertainment for the children, big-screen televisions, computers, to teach the children and to have them learn and be educated and also have a wonderful time; as wonderful as they can while they’re going through their particular illnesses, and hope to help them during that period of time. All of these and all of the volunteers of the Starlight Children’s Foundation are delighted to be part of this wonderful celebration. And we are delighted to be here tonight. To Debbie, thank you so much, and to John, who is a board member of the Starlight Children’s Foundation. We are delighted to be here, and we thank you for allowing us to be part of this wonderful evening.
Shoshana Grammer: Good evening. On behalf of the thousands of children across the world who tonight are fighting for their lives from cancer, AIDS, leukemia, and other catastrophic diseases, I thank you for opening up your hearts to the children from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The Board of Directors, volunteers, staff, doctors, and researchers are feverishly trying to find new cures for these diseases. And through the generosity shown to us this evening, we’re closer to finding those cures. Our founder, entertainer Danny Thomas, said, “No child should die in the dawn of his life.” I believe that you all believe that with us, too. And together tonight, we’ve come closer to realizing his dream. When the hospital and research center was opened in the early 1960s, there was only a 4% survival rate from these catastrophic diseases. But because of the research that’s been done at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, that survival rate is now 60%. And in some cases, even 80 and 90%. And it’s all through the generosity... Yeah, let’s give it a hand!
It’s all done through the generosity of good people like you. So now, when a mom and dad hear that their child has cancer or leukemia, it’s not a death sentence. It means that there’s hope, because seven out of ten children will survive that catastrophic disease. And we’re very proud to report those research statistics. Danny Thomas also believed that children everywhere in the world should have the same opportunity for this kind of research and care. And just like you all are international, so is St. Jude, and children from 60 countries are being treated right now, this year, in Memphis, Tennessee. And we’re reaching out without any kind of political or geographic boundaries to reach every child. Because right now, one out of 330 children will get cancer and leukemia, and we want that to be zero within our lifetime.
The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association and St. Jude have something in common, and that’s our love for children and our dedication to each other. Through this, we make miracles happen, and tonight, you’ve made miracles happen for these children, and I thank you very, very much. Our past chair of our L.A. chapter, Mike Driebe, has a plaque of appreciation, and even though you all can’t see that, I hope that you know that it comes from our hearts to you. Thank you very much!
John Moschitta Jr.: Well, we’ve heard Her name, Her poetry, Her vision, and some people have got some plaques they want to give Her. So, isn’t it time to meet the Master Herself? Please welcome Supreme Master Ching Hai. […]
Master: Speak something? Alright. Hi! It’s me! In the presence of my biggest idol, Ms. Debbie, I am speechless. I watched all her movies – the old ones and the new ones. Anyhow, I’m not going to take a lot of time from you. It was beautiful music, wasn’t it? (Yes!)
I thank you so much for everything that you’ve done this evening for us, and for God, and for myself. It was really a nice, nice surprise. I didn’t think it was so big. I was invited here for music and some compositions of my poetry, but I did not imagine it’d be so grand an evening. I was so surprised and so delighted. So, now comes the most important part of our evening. I would like to represent all of you to offer a little contribution to these two great organizations who take care of the children without condition, without wanting any reward. But God will know! God knows their effort. So, this is from you to them.
You are from the... (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.) Yes. And you may read it inside. You introduce yourself, and you tell them what they have offered you. I just signed it on their behalf. I just signed it on your behalf. I told him.
Mike Driebe: “Dear St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in best wishes for the children, I would like to sincerely give a humble contribution, a humble contribution of $150,000 to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Thank you for your efforts in serving such a noble cause. Yours Truly!”
Supreme Master [Ching Hai], on behalf of the scientists, the doctors, the volunteers, and the staff at St. Jude’s, but most especially the children, thank You so much for Your generous support. (Thank God!) Thank You.
Master: And this is from who? (Is it for Starlight?) Yes. This is for Starlight. You introduce yourself also. (OK.) Thank you. (Thank You so much!) We will keep this.
Marc Cohen: “Dear Starlight Children’s Foundation, in best wishes for the children, I would sincerely give a humble contribution of $100,000 to the Starlight Children’s Foundation. Thank you for your efforts in serving such a noble cause.”
And Supreme Master [Ching Hai], on behalf of all of the children of the Starlight Children’s Foundation, which number over 500,000, we thank You very, very much for Your generous contribution. (You are generous! Thank you very much.)
Debbie Reynolds: Now, we don’t want You to go any place, because we have a surprise for You. (Yes?) And I’d like to ask Mr. Peter Boyer if he would come forward. He’s somewhere hiding. He’ll be right out. He’s coming, he’s coming. We have a little surprise for You besides the lovely plaques that You received. But of course, Your gracious gifts were so generous, everybody’s very grateful. Oh, Peter Boyer! A little surprise!
Master: It’s Peter! How do you do? (So pleased to meet You.) Your music is wonderful! (Thank You!)
Peter Boyer: We have a little surprise for You as You might have guessed and… (Even more?) Even more! (A surprise?) Could it be? On behalf of the composers, Fred Karlin and Maria Newman and myself, who have set Your poetry for this concert; we want to thank You. And I was given a tape of a song for which You not only wrote lyrics, but music as well. A song called “Farewell Song.” (Well, I just hum along when I was... This is a secret!) Not anymore, no! (You should not give it to people.) So, the song for which You’ve composed lyrics and music, I have arranged this song for some members of our orchestra. And I wonder, if You might like to join us and sing?
Master: I don’t think I can’t do that. I don’t think I can. And I might lose the tune and spoil your name. (I think they want You to give it a shot.) (You can do it.) I can’t. (Yes, You can do it.) I don’t know if I can because... (You can do it.) I don’t know how you arranged it. (You can do it! You go over there, and She’s going to sing. Ready?) (Do you want to give it a try?)
I thought it’s a surprise for me, but this is not! (You want to try? He’ll start the music, and You’ll start singing.) What if I miss the tune and spoil his reputation? (No, You won’t do that.) (What reputation?) Oh, my goodness. (Ready? I’ll just jump in and sing “Tammy” if anything goes wrong.) OK, OK. How does it start? (Where are you going my winter Sun? Won’t you...)
Follow me if I should stop. (I will try.) OK. (OK.) OK. (A little musical conference.) I am just trying to “blackmail” him to follow me. Oh, please, have compassion! Please! Please help! I stand here? (Do You need Your words? Do You need the words?) I might. I forgot everything already. Yes. (Here are Your words.) OK. Oh, my goodness! Please forgive me if I miss a tune or two. I probably will miss a lot. You see, we had a retreat for a few days now, and I’ve been talking every day to thousands of people. So I don’t know if my voice will shock you out of your violins or not. (We’ll give it a try.) OK, please. I just try, and you help to follow me. I cannot follow you. (That’s my job.) OK, OK. Alright! Let’s do it.
Where, where are you going, my winter Sun? Won’t, won’t you miss me Staying on this side of the sea?
Where, where’ve you gone to, my tender Moon? Oh, how I miss you Standing on this side, Water blue!
I wish we could sail To the same destination. I want to break these chains… Oh! My desperation!
Where, where’re you now, my only one? Won’t someone hold you, When you wake up crying?
When will I see you, my only one? Won’t someone tell me If you’ll ever return?
I wish we could sail To the same destination. I want to break these chains... Oh! My desperation!
When, when will I see you, my only one? Won’t someone tell me If you’ll ever return?
Where, where are you now, my only one? Won’t someone tell me If you’ll ever return? If you’ll ever return?
Master: Thank you so much! Thank you for being so kind. You are so kind. Thank you, too. (It was beautiful.) It’s alright. (Not bad for an ad-lib. Not bad for an ad-lib at all.)
Debbie Reynolds: It was wonderful! Supreme Master Ching Hai! Bravo! Bravo! Beautiful! That’s really putting somebody on the spot. For a tiny Girl, You certainly have a beautiful voice. What wonderful lyrics! I think this was very special tonight. Wasn’t that wonderful and dear of Her? I mean... (Yes!!!) I would have been scared to death. She did a beautiful job. I can’t believe She did that! They told me, “Just tell Her, it’ll be easy.” But you know, that’s very scary. I was very proud of Her. Wasn’t She wonderful? She sings beautifully. I had a figure like that when I was 14. We’ll explain that later. Forty-seven, and don’t forget!
