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THE STARS COME OUT AT RIVER OF REFUGE FUNDRAISER

American Idol’s Danny Gokey Shares in Compassion for the Homeless

American Idol’s Danny Gokey and Royals Hall-of-Famer Frank White to appear at “A Night of
Stars,” the second annual fundraising gala by River of Refuge, a Kansas City non-profit
organization that transitions homeless families living in pay-by-the-week motels into their own
homes. For more information, go to riverofrefuge.com

American Idol star Danny Gokey will be lending his heart as well as his voice to help raise funds for the homeless during "A Night of Stars," the second annual fundraising gala for River of Refuge in Kansas City,Missouri  on September 21, 2013. It is blessings like this that keep the momentum going for this nonprofit organization.

Since the day when John Wiley discovered that thousands of working families are living
in motels throughout the Greater Kansas City area, it has been the mission of River of Refuge to
help these families not only get out of the motels, but to also teach them to live independently
and find them permanent homes that they can afford.

“We understand that many of these families are hard-working people who simply want the best
for their children,” said John Wiley, founder and program administrator for River of Refuge. “The
reason they pay $800 or more in monthly rent and continue to run a household out of a one-room,
run-down motel, is because they are trapped and have no other option. But they get up every day
and go to work so their children can go to school and have a place to sleep at night.”

River of Refuge is asking the community for financial help through the support of its annual gala
which was founded last year. Titled “A Night of Stars,” the event will take place at 6 p.m.
Saturday, September 21 at the Hilton Garden Inn, 19677 E. Jackson Drive, Independence, Missouri.
The Gala will feature a performance by Nashville recording artist and American Idol finalist Danny
Gokey. Kansas City Royals Hall-of-Famer, Frank White will also be a featured speaker at the
event.

“I was contacted by Danny Gokey recently because coincidentally he has a similar organization,
helping homeless families who live in motels, in his hometown of Nashville,” Wiley said. “He’s
offered to help with River of Refuge’s fundraiser and we’re thrilled to have him perform at our
event.”

Sophia’s Heart, started by Gokey in Nashville in 2008, helps children and families affected by
poverty, sickness and other ailments by finding them a place to live and overcome other hardships
in their lives. Sophia’s Heart was named for Gokey’s wife who died unexpectedly from a heart
condition five years ago. The organization has been able to assist hundreds of homeless families
find permanent homes in the Nashville area. Today, Gokey hopes to use his influence to raise
awareness for this tremendous problem in Nashville, Kansas City as well as nationwide.

“It’s an incredible honor to be invited to come to Kansas City and help raise awareness and the
funding needed for this very worthy cause,” said Gokey. “The organization I founded and River of
Refuge here in Kansas City are both working to help hard-working, needy families with children
and that’s something that will always hold a special place in my heart. No matter what city, these
families need our support.”

Wiley founded River of Refuge in 2006 when he noticed a group of children loading a school bus
from the parking lot of an old, run-down motel near his home in Raytown, Missouri. River of
Refuge was conceived to specifically address thousands of working families who have become
trapped in pay-by-the-week motels throughout Greater Kansas City and into the suburbs.
For more information about River of Refuge, go to riverofrefuge.com.
ABOUT RIVER OF REFUGE

Still in the fundraising stages, River of Refuge intends to
open a facility in the former Park Lane Hospital in Kansas
City, Missouri, to serve as a regional lodging complex for
homeless families. When it opens at 5155 Raytown Rd., the
complex will provide a direct alternative to pay-by-the-
week motels as well as offer financial support and access
to significant community resources needed to be successful in finding permanent housing. Until
the first 11 apartments are complete at the River of Refuge (construction is scheduled to begin
this year), the organization continues to place one family at a time through donations and
volunteers. For more information, visit riverofrefuge.com.
ABOUT DANNY GOKEY

Nashville based, BMG recording artist Danny Gokey became a favorite
of millions of fans as a Top 3 finalist on Season Eight of American Idol.
In 2010, Gokey released his debut album, My Best Days, which
debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart and included the
hits “My Best Days Are Ahead of Me” and “I Will Not Say Goodbye.”
He is also the founder of Sophia’s Heart, an organization established
in 2008 in honor of his late wife.  The organization’s goal is to provide
hope and help to homeless families.  It also provides scholarships to
deserving students and has a thriving inner city Music & Arts program.
st
Danny’s new book “Hope In Front of Me” goes on sale October 1 and
he is currently writing songs for a new album release.
dannygokey.com

Premier1Studios
Cheryl Wicker (318) 325-3147; (318) 512-6330
Cheryl@Premier1Studios.com