Concert Report - Chris Burke

Over 200 people danced to the beat at the "Singer With The Band" concert that featured Chris Burke and Joe and John DiMasi. The event was held on Friday, April 28th at St. Thomas Moore Church in Lynchburg and was co-sponsored by DePaul Family Services and L'Arche.

Chris Burke is best known as the young actor with Down Syndrome who starred as Corky on the ABC TV hit series "Life Goes On." Joe and John DeMasi are professional musicians, identical twins and lifelong friends of Chris. There show is designed to show young and old alike that everyone is special, that everyone has a song to sing and that what truly matters in life is your ability, not your disability. Through music, acting and song Chris, Joe and John celebrate the many kinds of people who make up our world.

The majority of the audience was individuals with disabilities, including some with Down's Syndrome. "Many of our clients in DePaul's OPTIONS Day Support Programs have studied Chris and his accomplishments. That is why this event is so special for them. Chris really is an inspiration to individuals with disabilities" said Sue Bentley, DePaul Family Services Executive Director.

Chris Burke and Joe and John DeMasi have been delighting audiences throughout the U.S. and Canada with their inspiring, uplifting and entertaining music for over a decade. The trio brings a message of love, inclusion and celebration to the hundreds of concerts, schools, festivals, conferences and conventions that they perform at each year.

The event also was a chance for DePaul Family Services and L'Arche to work together. L'Arche USA is part of the international federation of L'Arche communities in which people with disabilities and assistants choose to live and work together. "We were very excited to partner with L'Arche for this event. We both serve the same populations and this is just one more thing we can do to add to the lives of the individuals we serve, as well as the community" said Kimberly Burrows, Director of Marketing for DePaul Family Services.