Students and professors present a check for Habitat for Humanity to members of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band (PHJB). Left to right: Michael Giroud, senior, music education; Frederick Lonzo, trombone, PHJB; Melanie Lipman, junior, music education and current president, Music Education Club; Shannon McClure, senior, music education (past president, Music Education Club); Carol Frierson-Campbell, associate professor of music and advisor of WPU Music Education Club; and John Brunious, trumpet, PHJB.

William Paterson music students presented a check for $3,000 in support of musicians who were victims of Hurricane Katrina to the New Orleans-based Preservation Hall Jazz Band during their performance on campus on December 8.

Over the past year, the William Paterson University Music Education Club raised more than $5,000 to build houses for the Habitat for Humanity Musicians Village in New Orleans as a result of a successful fund-raising campaign. The campaign raised funds to send ten William Paterson students to New Orleans during spring break where they worked under the auspices of Habitat for Humanity focusing on interior work on a home including sheet rock, windows, and floors.

“We traveled to New Orleans from March 10 to 17, 2007, to work at the Musicians Village that is being built by Habitat for Humanity,” says Carol Frierson-Campbell, associate professor of music and advisor to the Music Education Club. “The students wanted to match the funds raised to cover the cost of their own travel with a donation to Habitat New Orleans. They set a fundraising goal of $5,000, with half going for travel and half being a donation. They surpassed the donation goal, ultimately donating $3,000 to Habitat for Humanity in New Orleans.” Stephen Marcone, interim dean, accompanied the students to New Orleans.

Frierson-Campbell reports the students' primary fund-raiser was the Shea Café, an elegant evening of music and desserts hosted in February, 2007. The music department faculty donated their time as performers for the event, which was a sell-out that attracted faculty, students, and many members of the community. The students also raised funds on their own with a letter-writing campaign.

“We presented the check to these band members so we could make a public presentation to acknowledge the contributions made by the Music Education Club to the musicians of New Orleans,” says Frierson-Campbell.