About two months ago, Chuck wrote his first article for the server Le Huffington Post – and back then he reviewed a part of Simple Plan’s tour across Asia.
Now, Mr. Comeau has returned to his quill again and wrote another article for this press – this time about his thoughts on being recognized for their work with the Simple Plan Foundation by receiving a humanitarian award last month.
You can read the English translation of the original French post here:
When music saves lives
by Chuck ComeauOn March 31st, at the Gala Dinner of the JUNO Awards, Simple Plan was awarded with the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award, that annually recognizes outstanding humanitarian commitments of Canadian artists. We were awarded for our work with the Simple Plan Foundation. Among the other musicians who were the recipients of this prestigious award in the past are Neil Young, Bryan Adams and Sarah McLachlan. In 2012, the Simple Plan Foundation will reach the exceptional line of $1 million in donations to organizations that assist young people in need or those who suffer from various diśeases.
For our band, receiving an award that recognizes the work of our Foundation, is certainly one of the most beautiful moments of our career. This is a very special award and it was definitely an evening that we will never forget. We sincerely appreciate it.
When we had the idea of creating the Simple Plan Foundation six years ago, none of us could ever imagine how important it was going to be to us. Certainly, we never suspected all the work it would require. More importantly, none of us knew at that moment, how much would engaging and sharing be rewarding for us. Today, the Foundation has become a part of who we are as a band and as individuals and we can no longer define ourselves differently.
We all had a chance to grow up in families that have taught us ever since we were young that when you achieve something huge in your life, you have to be generous and give back to the community. We were blessed with an exceptional career and having the incredible privilege to make our dreams come true. Every day we get up, travel the world and do what we love to do. Only two weeks ago, we’ve celebrated the 10th anniversary of our first album and at the same time, 13 years since the start of our band. We are extremely grateful for all that life has given us. The Foundation is our way of helping those who are perhaps not as fortunate as us.
It’s pretty amazing that all this, our career and the Foundation, we owe to the extraordinary power of music. It is through music that the five of us found a passion, a purpose in our lives, and we became who we are today. It was thanks to music that we were able to communicate with our fans all around the world, who have found something meaningful in our songs that they could relate to. We can not say how many times it has happened that a fan came to us after a show to tells us that if it wasn’t for our music, they would not be here today. How many times we have received letters and emails from fans telling us that music is their only interest, their only motivation and the only thing that makes sense in their life. After the first few times you can take these words lightly and say they just exaggerate, but when it happens again – 10 times, 20 times and even hundreds of times, you start to realize that what they’re saying is real and sincere.
A simple song, in the right place, at the right time can change everything. It can bring a smile, making a day better, help people through tough times, raise money for various good causes and sometimes it can even save a life. At times like these, when many consider music a disposable product, it is more crucial than ever to remember how important music itself is. This sums up the mission of the Simple Plan Foundation: helping troubled youth through the power of music.
Ever sice we started with the Foundation, we try to raise funds and awareness about the causes that are important to us – all that through annual benefit concerts for the Foundation, participation in events like Live 8 , MTV Asia Aid and We Day, initiatives against drunk driving like MADD, RADD and Educ Alcohol, involvement with the charitable song “Waving Flag” for Haiti, campaign sales of bracelets and wallets for War Child, participation in the United Way campaign, selling t-shirts to benefit the Red Cross to help the victims of the Japanese earthquake… These are some ways that allow us to achieve our goals. In addition, we recently decided to give $1 from each ticket sold at our tours around the world. For us it is another way to make sure that we can continue the mission of the Foundation.
Obviously, all the work that the charity would not be possible without the help of all the people who support us. First, we would to thank our wonderful volunteers. None of them was ever paid and never received even a cent for their incredible commitment to this cause: it is them to whom we owe the fact that we‘ve received the Allan Waters‘ award. It is also thanks to our fans who support us in all our charitable initiatives, that the Foundation can help so many young people. They are also the ones who, with their many stories, their experiences and often very moving letters, inspired us to want to get involved and “give back”.
In the end, I’d like to say that we are very proud to be, so far, the youngest recipients of this award. Indeed there is no requirement to wait until being 50 or 60 years old to begin to help others. We sincerely hope that this award will encourage other young bands and artists to also commit themselves to good causes.
