The Official Taylor's Angels Weblog

Taylor Hicks Fans Taying it Forward One Soul At A Time

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Tuesday, February 26, 2008

A Taylor Hicks Fan Touches The Lives Of Children



One of the most rewarding aspects of being one of Taylor's Angels has been working with the children's charities. They are our littlest angels who deserve every bit of happiness they can have in the lives. Taylor Hicks has shown his love for children in all the various charities he has supported and continuous to work with.
A Soul Patrol member named Kimberly (KTINTN) caught my attention this past year. She is a huge supporter of Taylor Hicks and does some remarkable work with the Ronald McDonald House in Memphis. We asked Kimberly to tell us a bit about herself and her work. I think you will find what I found. An extraordinary woman with a heart full of love.


TA: If someone were to describe you, what would they say?

I had to actually ask someone else this question, as this is not one I can answer myself. LoL!
Their response: Cute, fun, smart, great friend, willing to help in any way possible, great personality, hard worker, cares for friends and her family, music lover, dedicated to helping with things that are close to her heart.

TA: How did you become a fan of Taylor Hicks?

The moment, he uttered the words "I was born by the river", I knew this was someone to watch out for. Not for just the obvious talent, but for the fact that he broke the mold of what had been pushed in front of us in previous years. Amazing talent has come out of Idol, but for me Bo Bice & Taylor Hicks were & still are the stand-outs.

TA: Have you attended any concerts ? If so, tell us your favorite memory.

A concert I have not attended, yet! Due to timing and unfortunate circumstance I could not go when he was in town for a show. That will change when he does come thru town again, hopefully in the near future. Luckily, I was able to attend his Memphis book signing. On that same day he donated a handful of signed books, CDs & a Poster Board for a Fundraiser we were having that very weekend for Ronald McDonald House of Memphis. We thank you again, Taylor.

TA: Has Taylor inspired you in any particular area of your life?

I was already involved in charity work before Taylor came along, but like many others, it was not until he did, that I used music, good music, his music to help promote the different events we have held & will continue to hold. We have also shared his music as well as others by donating their albums to those who could not acquire it themselves.

TA: You volunteer for various charities. Can you tell us about that and why charitable giving is so important to you? How did you become involved with each of them?

I volunteer w/ a handful of our local children's charities; Ronald McDonald House of Memphis being closest to my heart. As a child, I myself had spent time long periods of time in the hospital for unrelated reasons. We had visitors from different organizations and even though I was young, I appreciated what they did for us. Thru the years, I realized that this experience had only made me stronger mentally, emotionally & spiritually. Knowing what a child can go thru in a challenging time in their young life, I'm now able to give back. If there is anyway for me to help and make it easier on them, then that is what I need to & will do.

TA: What do you consider to be your strongest attribute that has helped you deal with life's challenges?

One word, FAITH. To quote George Michael, "you got to have Faith". My faith in myself & the lord above is the main reason why I have the ability thru my disability to go thru everyday life.

TA: What are your hobbies and what do you enjoy doing with your free time?

Good music obviously, travelling when possible. I'm also a major movie & art buff. Plus, when time permits I like to squeeze in a good book and a round of 'Outburst' & or Poker w/ friends.



There is no better donation than a donation from the heart. Whether you are giving of your time, or generously providing an in-kind or a monetary donation. Taylor's Angels wishes to thank Kimberly for answering our questions and wish her well as she continues her wonderful work.

Upcoming events for the Ronald McDonald House of Memphis:
03/13/08 to 03/14/08 -- RMH Radiothon 2008

Summertime (Date TBA) -- RMH Big Scoop Ice Cream Festival

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Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Memphis (RMH) is a 501( c ) 3 charity, and while it proudly serves St. Jude families, it is not a St. Jude facility. The Ronald McDonald House of Memphis must raise its own funds through donations and special events to support the $2 million plus per year operating budget. In addition to operating expenses, the House took on an expansion debt in 1999 to accommodate other families in need; we are still working to pay down this debt. Another major misconception about the Ronald McDonald House is that it is operated by the McDonald’s Corporation. While McDonald’s Corporation along with our local Owner/Operators are very generous to the House, we only receive about 9% of our total operating budget from these entities. At the Ronald McDonald House, families can sleep in a warm bed, take a shower in their private bathroom and prepare and eat meals in a spacious, cheerful kitchen. Families, also, have access to a fitness room, meditation room, one of three laundry rooms, a park with playground, a basketball court, and a pavilion. More importantly, families find the support and comfort of others who share the experience of having a very sick child. All families stay free of charge.

Written by: Cydter



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Sunday, February 24, 2008

Congratulations Taylor Hicks!!!!

This past Friday, Taylor's Angels attended The Alabama Music Hall of Fame Awards.
Here is video of Taylor on the red carpet! We were extremely proud of Taylor for this wonderful accomplishment. Enjoy!










For more exclusive media check out : The Taylor Hicks Community
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Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Taylor Hicks Supporter Strives to Change One Heart at a Time


Taylor Hicks became the new American Idol in May 2006. On that same night, he performed a heartfelt rendition of the song Do I Make You Proud and recorded/ released it as a CD single shortly after that. Throughout the summer tour of American Idols LIVE, he sang this song at every performance and dedicated it to our troops, both overseas and at home. To both share his tribute and honor your commitment in service to our country, this CD single is for you. May you know in your hearts that your sacrifice has not been in vain and you always make us proud.

Those who have offered their lives for their country know that patriotism is not the fear of something, it is the love of something! – Adlai Stevenson

These words were penned on a card attached to Taylor Hicks’ Do I Make You Proud CD and delivered to the soldiers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC in November, 2006. The most critically wounded received this inspirational gift to help them realize, even in their darkest moments, that their sacrifice had not been in vain. Totally inspired by Taylor's dedication to the troops and the Proud of our Troops Drive, Alice Culbreth embarked on a mission of love to honor their sacrifice in service to our country. Alice raised the money for the CD’s through her church (who also helped prepare the packages for delivery) and Taylor’s fan base, The Soul Patrol, and was able to deliver much more than a song to our country’s bravest men and women. On this day in November, 2006, Alice delivered HOPE, and continued her ministry of love to those in need.

Since that time, Alice has continued to support Taylor Hicks in his efforts to give back to others. Supporting charities such as Kid One Patrol of Soul (KOPS), Kid One Transport and Proud of Our Troops Drive as well as numerous other charities that support children, youth and social justice, Alice continuously gives of her time and talents. She has been a special friend to Taylor’s Angles, donating many tickets so that fans, underprivileged children or battered women could attend a Taylor Hicks concert and donating KOPS cookbooks to those that could not otherwise afford them. Alice sums up her reason for giving in this manner:

“I support all these charities for the same reason: to make positive impacts here will change the world and make it a better, safer, healthier place for all children and adults. It can be done…. one project, one phone call, one letter, one heart at a time.”

We congratulate Alice Culbreth (better known as totustuus or totu on the fan sites) on her selection as Taylor’s Angels Hero of the Month and urge you to read more about the extraordinary efforts of this wonderfully compassionate Taylor Hicks fan!



TA: Tell us a little about you personally.


Alice: I have one son, Justin who will turn 30 this year. He’s married and has made me one happy “grammy” to my precious little Brittany, who will be turning nine years old very soon. I just turned 50 in 2007 and really enjoy being a young grandma. I live in southern Maryland, about 25 miles south of Washington, DC and have lived in or around the Nation’s Capital my entire life. I am the oldest daughter in a family of three girls. I worked in “corporate America” for 18 years in operations management and systems development for a telecommunications firm. When company re-structuring relocated my department to the Midwest, I began to work full time as the youth minister at my church, taking a 2/3 cut in pay! Nine years and many graduate level courses in theology and Scripture later, I am currently the Director of Christian Formation at the same church, serving about 1200 families.


My hobbies include reading, writing and listening to music. I have a CD collection of close to 400 and have attended many concerts each year. Most recently, I saw Barry Manilow on February 9 and will see Bon Jovi on February 28. My musical tastes are eclectic and I have favorite artists in almost every genre. Taylor Hicks is the ONLY artist I have ever traveled long distances to see, all on the same tour! As far as TV is concerned, I’m a diehard Law and Order fan and never miss an episode of Lost. Also, I actually schedule my appointment/meeting calendar at work around American Idol! My current guilty pleasure is Rock of Love/Rock of Love 2 with Bret Michaels on VH1. Additionally, I love working on craft projects, my scrapbooks and writing cards to send to friends in my spare time.


TA: Why is charitable giving so important to you?



Alice: I try to live my life the way God wants me to. Part of that is recognizing the many blessings He’s given me and to give to others in humble gratitude. Living what I profess to believe is important to me. As a song so eloquently puts it, He has no hands but ours. One of the two rings I wear bears an inscription of a favorite Scripture, 1 Corinthians 13:13: “So faith, hope, love remain these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Charity IS love in action and the world certainly needs more love. As Mother Teresa once said, “We can do not great things, only small things with great love”. So I am trying to do my part.


TA: What do you personally receive from your charitable giving efforts?


Alice: I know in my heart that it’s in giving and sharing of our time, treasure and talents with others that we truly receive the greatest of God’s blessings in our own lives. If my small sacrifice makes one person smile, puts food on a family’s table, gets one child to much needed medical treatment, or simply allows them see God’s love for them, then that’s enough.


TA: What have you accomplished that has meant the most to you?

Alice: This is a tough question for me. I have never been good at recognizing my own accomplishments. I always say that my greatest accomplishment is the one I haven’t yet achieved. I would have to say that what has meant the most to me is being able to come through many trials, bad relationships and horrible situations in my life with my spirit intact. I have been bruised and battered at times, but never broken. I guess you can say that I am a ‘soul’ survivor.



TA: If someone were to describe you, what would they say about you?



Alice: That might depend on who was offering the description! Those who know me well would say that I’m honest, patient, prayerful, and steadfast in my beliefs, loyal, generous and someone who can be trusted. They might also tell you that I can pierce their hearts with my silence, and tend to go into my “shell” when I’ve been wounded or misunderstood. I can be very moody at times, reflective at others and pensive when I don’t feel secure in a situation. I also get my Irish up (as the saying goes) when I witness any kind of cruelty injustice or selfish behaviors that put others at risk. Also, some may say that I am quite passionate about defending the dignity of every human person even when it’s not the popular or politically correct viewpoint.

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TA: How did you become a Taylor Hicks fan?



Alice: I enjoyed watching Taylor on American Idol and even voted for him every week! I picked Taylor to be in the top three along with Mandisa and Chris Daughtry, so one out of three ain’t bad, right? I didn’t become a true admirer of Taylor until after I saw the AI5 tour in July of 2006. I had never been to an AI concert, but I loved many in the top 10, so my friend gave me tickets for my birthday. When Taylor performed and dedicated Do I Make You Proud to the troops, it brought me to tears. As the mom of an Army veteran (Justin served at the beginning of the Iraqi conflict as a medic), it just touched my heart and soul in a profound way. It really was at that moment that I wanted to learn everything about Taylor Hicks, so I searched the internet where I found and joined The Official Soul Patrol fan site. That, for me, was the beginning of the Taylor journey!

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TA: What do you consider to be one of Taylor Hicks’ most outstanding qualities that you find to be an inspiration?



Alice: Taylor Hicks has a beautiful heart. It shows in everything he does, from his respect for our country and those who serve it, to his commitment to and obvious love for children. You can see he’s a witness to that in the charities and causes he supports, to be sure. I have witnessed this quality personally through his interactions with my granddaughter Brittany, who was able to twice meet him during the solo tour of 2007. Taylor took extra time with her to make it personal for her and even asked her questions, looked at her gift and said he would keep it forever, etc. In my experience, these actions are not things that can be faked so I believe it to be in Taylor’s soul. Children and youth can see right through “phoniness” even with the best actors on the planet. Taylor captured Brittany’s heart with his kindness and therefore he captured my unending gratitude and respect.



TA: To which charities do you find yourself personally drawn and why?



Alice: I love anything that concerns children and youth, such as Kid One Transport, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, and Compassion International. Also very dear to my heart are charities that deal with social justice, such as SaveDarfur, ONE Campaign, and Habitat for Humanity. And obviously, I am quite passionate about anything related to supporting our service men and women. I support all these charities for the same reason: to make positive impacts here will change the world and make it a better, safer, healthier place for all children and adults. It can be done…. one project, one phone call, one letter, one heart at a time.

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I would like to give some special recognition to my friends in KOPS. I have spent a good amount of time, talent and treasure supporting their efforts to help Kid One Transport in Alabama. Many of the projects we’ve taken on as a group go beyond the mere fundraising efforts you’ve read about and no doubt supported. The Beanie Babies Drive, gifts for moms on Mother’s Day, the card drive for a young girl fighting for her life and adopting a soldier through Soldiers Angels….the list goes on. We’ve traveled together, both literally and figuratively for about a year and a half now. I’m honored to have been given the opportunity to work with KOPS to help Kid One meet its goals beyond maintaining current services, to where they can pursue their dream of expansion…so that no child ever suffers or dies because they have no transportation to an appointment or hospital. I have been blessed in so many ways through my association with this group. What a great tribute to the power of the Soul Patrol they are!




I am honored to have been chosen by Taylor’s Angels as Hero of the Month. My prayer is that my story will inspire others to take a chance and reach out in love to those in need.


God bless!
Alice Culbreth



If you would like to learn more about Kid One Patrol The Soul, click here: KOPS






A Note from Taylor’s Angels:

If you would like to nominate someone for our Hero of the Month Award, please email us at taylors_angels@yahoo.com and submit the name of a person in the Patrol Community who has done something special to help and/or given support to someone in need within the community. Monthly winners will be given a beautifully designed eternity bracelet and will also be featured in our Taylor’s Angels blog.

Let us hear from you about the wonderful spirits that exist among Taylor Hicks fans!



Edited by Tina (DidNotExpectThat)










Saturday, February 16, 2008

A PHOTO MONTAGE OF TAYLOR HICK'S 2007 SOLO TOUR

Hey Soul Patrol!!!

Most of you have become acquainted with Tina's fabulous pictures she has captured this past year of Taylor Hicks during his solo tour. Well, now she has tried her hand at making a video. She sent the video to Teri and I for critique, and all we could say was 'OMG!!! This is going on the blog!!!" Since Tina is too shy and would never publish this herself, we are doing it for her!!! So, sit back and enjoy her show. Don't take your eyes off the computer because you are about to see included some "never-before-seen" pictures, as well.

Enjoy!!!



Taylor Hicks Modern Whomp Tour 2007 from DidNotExpectThat on Vimeo.


Written by: Leslie
Published by: Teri
Video by: Tina

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Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Taylor Hicks Inspires Love


Happy Valentine's Day, Soul Patrol!!!!

This day also marks Taylor's Angels one year anniversary. Because of that, we wanted to put together something special for all of you.

Everything that has been accomplished by Taylor's Angels couldn't have been possible without the support and generosity of the Soul Patrol. Taylor Hicks has attracted a wonderful fanbase that never second guesses the need to reach out and help others in need. You have readily answered our calls to send troops to concerts, help people with memberships to the HQ, help a family at Christmas when they've lost everything in a housefire, and the list goes on. Celebrating and expressing your love for someone may only come once a year, but the Soul Patrol does it everyday!

In the Spirit of the Soul Patrol Community, we have included fan boards, charities, and favorite blogs in the video . Special thanks to all that participated in sending us pictures.

We hope you enjoy our gift to all of you and we wish each of you a great Valentine's Day!!



"I'm here to show you, this love is real"~ Taylor Hicks "The Deal"




Written by: Leslie,Cydter and Tina
Video/published by: Cydter
Photo used with permission from the Soul Patrol.





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Wednesday, February 06, 2008

"Sharing Our Soul" with Taylor Hicks and the New England Soul Patrol




When people come together with a common goal, anything is possible! That’s been the philosophy of NESP (The New England Soul Patrol) since its' founding in Portland, Maine in September 2006. This organization started as a regional group supporting the music and artistry of Taylor Hicks. However, the reputation of the NESP has grown beyond the boundaries of the New England states. Taylor Hicks fans from all over the country have now joined in the organization’s unique ways of celebrating the charitable giving inspired by Taylor himself.

NESP is well known for their boundless enthusiasm, much like the energy shown by Taylor Hicks. At Taylor’s concerts, the NESP is often spotted waving glow bracelets as they dance and sing through the entire show and encouraging Taylor’s youngest fans, whom they affectionately dubbed the “Tayter Tots”, in the same show of support for the Soul Man. These Taylor Hicks enthusiasts have even showered Taylor, his band, and his crew with gifts designed to make life on the road a little more fun. Perhaps the most “famous” gift was a specially designed acoustic stool that made its appearance on stage with Taylor as he performed across the country in 2007.

But the NESP’s generosity has not stopped with Taylor Hicks. They were brought together by their mutual love for Taylor’s music, but what they soon discovered was that they also shared a desire to help others. And so, with that in mind, NESP began "Sharing Our Soul," a program that supports worthy charities.


Tossing Mullets for Charity….Taylor Hicks said that only happens in Alabama!


The New England Soul Patrol writes about one of their first fundraisers, which supported Studio By The Tracks, a Birmingham, Alabama based organization that garnered attention from Taylor Hicks himself, and provides arts and other activities for persons with autism:


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“One of our early NESP events was held last April before Taylor’s show in Hampton Beach, NH. The Hampton Beach Mullet Toss was the brainchild of two of our founding members, Margaux and Amyrebo. It was based on the Florabama’s mullet toss for charity, an event that has become synonymous with Taylor Hicks throughout the Soul Patrol community.


Participants purchased a package that consisted of a string of purple Mardi Gras beads, a colorful plastic fish, and a t-shirt designed by NESP’s co-founder and webmaster, Tricia. The t-shirt included a fish graphic design drawn by a Studio by the Tracks artist, making it an even more special memento of the occasion.


The day began with 6 inches of snow in most of New Hampshire. We gathered at the Happy Clam, a Hampton Beach bar, for our pre-mullet toss party. There wasn’t much snow once we got to Hampton Beach, but it was wet, cold, and very windy. While partying at the Happy Clam, a cameraman and reporter from WMUR Channel 9 interviewed Tricia and her daughter as well as Aging Hippie and her husband. Tricia ended up on Channel 9 news that night, and the NESP story was part of a piece about Taylor Hicks that appeared on NH Chronicle in May. This TV news magazine article included both Tricia, her daughter Cassie and Aging Hippie!

Wearing the mullet toss t-shirts and donning the purple Mardi Gras beads, 20 hearty souls braved 30 degree temperatures and a stiff wind to throw “mullets” for distance on the beach in front of the casino. As we hit the beach we could hear Taylor’s pre-concert sound check. Once we were all gathered on the beach and in full mullet toss mode, the music stopped. Were we being watched? As the wind blew and our hands froze, we tossed those fish as far as we could. The winner was “Mr. Duff” who beat Tricia by just a hair! Once the toss was over and we began to disband, sound check started up again. Hmm, curious! At the meet and greet later in the day, our public relations representative, Karen, brought Taylor a “mullet” to sign and told him about the Mullet Toss. He smiled and acknowledged that he had heard about it!

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From the sale of the mullet toss packages, raffles at the Happy Clam, and the auction of a Taylor Hicks autographed framed graphic of the fish design, our first NESP fundraiser netted $420 for Studio by the Tracks. But more importantly, for the first time, we displayed the creativity, fun, and friendship that propelled us to do more."


“Sharing Our Soul” from the beginning

The NESP charitable efforts began a year ago with the sale of the first Soul Patrol Christmas ornament, with the proceeds benefiting The New Orleans Musician’s Clinic. Since that time, local charities have reaped the benefits of the efforts of the NESP, as they sought out charities in the New England locations where Taylor Hicks performed and provided them financial support. Their fundraising methods have included selling water bottles, mouse pads, pins, koozies, and glow bracelets as well as conducting online auctions for autographed items signed by Taylor Hicks.


“Sharing Our Soul” in the future

The NESP is proud of their first year’s success, but does not want to stop short and believes there is much to be accomplished. As they head into another year, NESP will continue to share its' soul and live by the credo, doing well by doing good.

If you’d like to learn more about NESP, please visit one of the following sites:

http://www.newenglandsoulpatrol.org/

http://newenglandsoulpatrol.org/mybb/


Written by Liz and Tricia, NESP
Edited by Tina (DidNotExpectThat)



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Sunday, February 03, 2008

Taylor Hicks Sends A Super Bowl Sunday Message



Taylor Hicks sends the Soul Patrol a message on Super Bowl Sunday! Thanks Taylor... It was great to hear from you!


(special thanks to The Whomp Swamp for bringing this to us)