Raising a Record $68,000 for Homeless Animals
HOUSTON: On Saturday, Sept. 27, nearly 150 animal lovers, musicians, and volunteers gathered for the third annual “Melodies of Gratitude” concert, raising funds and awareness for BARC Animal Shelter & Adoptions and Special Pals. Hosted by Wild Tunes, a Houston-based national nonprofit founded by 10-year-old Yuvaanh “Yuvi” Agarwal to soothe shelter animals through live music, the concert raised over $68,000 to support more than 23,000 homeless animals.
“We are deeply grateful for the generosity of our volunteers, performers, donors, and business partners. As we celebrate our third annual concert, it’s inspiring to see how music and kindness continue to unite to brighten the lives of both people and animals,” said Priyanka Agarwal, Yuvi’s mom and executive director of Wild Tunes.
The proceeds from the concert will support BARC and Special Pals’ ongoing operations, specifically for animal care, community outreach, and education. A portion of the proceeds will also go towards Wild Tunes to support its mission of delivering live music to shelter animals.
Thanks to a supporter named Terry, all donations made to Wild Tunes through Giving Tuesday on Dec. 2 will be matched dollar for dollar, doubling the impact of every contribution. Through this match, Terry is honoring the memory of her late husband Kenney and their beloved pups, Tessie “Sweet Girl,” and Little Lyla “Sweetie.” The Houston BARC Foundation has also agreed to match BARC’s portion of donations from the event, helping to care for even more pets.
Held at Resurrection MCC Church in Heights, the concert showcased Houston’s eclectic arts scene, featuring Yuvi Agarwal debuting an original piano piece, Kantara that reflects the sentiments of an animal who had been abandoned. There were also performances by the trio of Sarah McDonner, Emily Tallant, and John Markert, flamenco dancing by Undebel Flamenco, piano by prodigy Paul Joseph Naïve, youth ensemble Soleil Music & Arts, piano by Zayden Lalani, and vocals and guitar by Suzanne Garza, and an original song by Dan DeHart. AJ Santana, Houston-based vocalist and guitarist, was the featured performer. In a heartwarming, immersive tribute—Across the Rainbow Bridge, Yuvi honored deceased pets from all over the country with another original piece, Shakti. Kara Willis, KIAH-39 reporter and animal advocate, served as the mistress of ceremonies.
In addition, Fort Bend County Commissioner Dexter L. McCoy gave a few words about the impact of Wild Tunes on the lives of shelter animals residing at the Fort Bend County Animal Shelter. Sonia Soto, director of community engagement for Houston City Council member Twila Carter, presented a certificate of appreciation to Yuvi in recognition of his success in creating and growing Wild Tunes.
“As a musician, I feel blessed that I can use my talent to make a difference to thousands of homeless animals. Thank you to all the fellow musicians for adding their incredible energy to the concert and to Houstonians for being here to support us. Our goal was to raise funds and awareness about the importance of providing care and comfort to shelter animals awaiting their forever homes through music,” said Yuvi.
For more information about Wild Tunes, to learn how you can get involved, or donate visit www.wildtunes.org.
