Finding Peace

Local Nonprofit Provides Collaborative Fundraising Opportunities in Pacific Palisades and Beyond

By BARBARA BURKE | Contributing Writer

As communities try to emerge from COVID-19, even as the Delta variant lingers, Tahitian Terrace resident Eduardo Del Signore, founder of A Call 2Peace Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) organization, is forging ahead with plans for an 18-concert series in collaboration with area nonprofit organizations.

The goal: To raise funds to support much-needed efforts, ranging from addressing pressing environmental challenges, including climate change, feeding the hungry, housing people experiencing homelessness and providing tuition for underserved students.

“Our vision for the concert series includes increasing awareness about the great work of area nonprofits and raising much-needed funds,” Del Signore said. “Upcoming concerts will include events to support The Emily Shane Foundation’s Successful Educational Achievement program, which provides individual tutoring and mentoring services across Los Angeles and Ventura County; Eco Hero Kids Foundation, a performance group that recently wrapped shooting this Summer’s Young Filmmaker’s Series, spearheaded by Palisades Charter High School’s filmmaking teacher Malia Jakus; and Sea Save, which strives to protect oceans and raise awareness about the beauty of marine ecosystems and their fundamental importance.”

Del Signore and his board of directors vet proposed nonprofits by first establishing meaningful relationships with each recipient organization’s leadership team and collaboratively organizing successful events.

Such a process starts with focusing on why Del Signore founded A Call 2Peace in 2003.

“The central tenet of A Call 2Peace is that peace is the responsibility of the individual,” Del Signore said. “We are all born with peace inside our heart of hearts. However, unfortunately, we tend to forget our own innate nature. The results from this ultimate loss of existential memory have been devastating to ourselves and to planet earth—our home.

“A Call 2Peace’s musical, poetry, dance and visual arts events provide a vessel of remembrance, carrying a simple message: The events are a call to remember that peace is our nature and that it is our responsibility to feel it, and to secure that feeling each and every day.”

A Call 2Peace has provided a variety of fundraising concerts in the past, including a concert held at Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnet High School auditorium to benefit Ocean Charter School and Armory of Harmony, a local nonprofit founded by musicians to repurpose guns into working musical instruments and to support safe, strong schools.

The organization has also held a successful event to benefit The ClimateMusic Project, an organization that combines climate science with the emotional power of music to meaningful action.

Del Signore and A Call 2Peace’s Sonia Kazarova, a dramatic coloratura classically trained opera singer, were nominated for a Grammy in 2019 for Sekou Andrews & The String Theory. The pair also was awarded The Independent Music Awards for the same work.

Musicians joining in A Call 2Peace’s ensemble include Federico Ramos, most renowned as the guitarist for the movie “Coco,” Scarlet Rivera, violin player who worked with Bob Dylan on “Desire” and was featured in Martin Scocrese’s film “Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story,” and Ron Wagner, percussionist for Chick Corea and Cirque du Soleil.

“In our past concerts, we have featured dancers, graphic artists and poets,” Del Signore said. “The whole idea of our concert series is to provide a platform for like-minded organizations and individuals, and to host performances that excite and ignite. The evenings are entertaining and memorable, and help to support area charities that provide boots-on-the-ground solutions addressing urgent needs.”

Discussions concerning future concerts are ongoing with Ellen Shane, executive director of The Emily Shane Foundation, who said she is excited to partner for a concert to fundraise.

“Our foundation welcomes any opportunity to participate in a community-focused concert,” Shane said. “It would be wonderful to collaborate to present a safe and enjoyable event for the entire community, while at the same time providing funding for our SEA Program to serve the less fortunate students in need, who we support.”

Interested nonprofit organizations should contact Eduardo Del Signore at ac2pfoundation@gmail.com, 310-924-4312 or acall2peace.org.