NonProfit Newspod: For the Love of Clemon Charles - Sacramento Comes Together

Jeff Holden: [00:00:00] Welcome to this nonprofit podcast news pod where we amplify the voices for the benefit of nonprofits making a difference in their communities. I'm joined by Kitty O'Neil, a personality many of you know as the afternoon host on KFBK. Kitty's also a huge supporter of our nonprofit community as she emcees many events.

She's also a musician performing with her own local band, Skyler's Pool. You may be asking why a news pod with Kitty? Kitty, welcome to this nonprofit podcast news pod. 

Kitty O'Neal: Thank you, Jeff. Great to be with you. 

Jeff Holden: Many of our local musicians play events that are hosted by nonprofits as fundraisers. They could be paid gigs or, as in the case we're about to discuss, sometimes just to help out, to volunteer, to give back, to share their craft.

And there's a gentleman, a local musician, who has been very, very active in this space over the past 20 to 30 years. He's contributed his time and talent over and over and over again for the benefit of those nonprofit [00:01:00] fundraisers. He's been there for many organizations to entertain those attendees at those events.

His name is Clemon Charles. He could use a little help now. Could you share with us what happened? 

Kitty O'Neal: Absolutely. You know, it was the first week of May, and I was going down to a new installation down in Midtown in one of the parks of some beautiful poppies, and they had, you know, uh, music and food, and it was just this wonderful celebration.

And they were also honoring 40 people who have artistically contributed to Midtown. And there were big banners of all these peoples, and Clemon Charles was one. And I thought, "He'll be here for sure." And I looked all over for him because we're good friends, and I did not see him. And I thought, "Well, that's odd.

Maybe he had a gig tonight." That's what I thought. And then as I was leaving, I spoke to someone and said, "I'm sorry I don't see Clemon here tonight," 'cause they were, [00:02:00] we're mutual friends. And she said, "I heard he had a stroke and is in the hospital." This was the first week of May, like maybe May 2nd or 3rd.

I couldn't believe it. So I got in touch with some other mutual friends, and indeed, Clemon had had a stroke. And he had been, I, I, it had been a couple of days, I think, that he had not had attention. So he was at a hospital. I went to visit him. He did not know the first two times that I was even there. It was very touch and go.

We weren't even sure if he was gonna make it through. He'd had some surgeries, and the outlook was not good. But 

Jeff Holden: it's very emotional for 

Kitty O'Neal: me

He was able to recover enough to finally leave the hospital, and he is now living with his daughter. His daughter moved [00:03:00] out from Texas to be with him, and his 84-year-old mother flew from Barbados to be with him 'cause that is his homeland They're taking care of him. Um, in addition, there are some caretakers that are coming in, and we really need to pay some people who can help him with rehabilitation to get him to the plateau of being accepted into a rehabilitative facility.

He was not able to eat. He was fed through a peg in his stomach. He couldn't walk. He couldn't use facilities, can't talk, but now he can walk with a, a cane of assistance. He's able to eat food now. Still can't communicate. He does visually beautifully, but knows about four words that he can say, four or five words.

So this rehabilitation is key to get him into a greater arena where he can maybe really get all the help he needs. And [00:04:00] so that's why we're doing a fundraiser, is to help pay for that. 

Jeff Holden: And let's talk about that in just a second because what I wanna share with people is, is to understand so many of our independently employed artists, it's the love of the art.

It's, it's their performance. It's sharing their talent with an audience, and in many cases, giving back as, as Clemon has done over so many years. And health insurance is expensive, as is medical care. That typically isn't the first thing artists think about. No. And, you know, he finds himself in that sort of a situation.

So let's talk about what's happening. As a, as a close friend of his, you and others have organized an event, a fundraiser, to help with his medical needs and, and costs and care. Tell us what's going on. 

Kitty O'Neal: Yeah. Well, as you noted, he is an artist and musician, so his healthcare uh, you know, plans are minimal.

And so, and you know, you mentioned all the nonprofits. I mean, I first saw Clemon [00:05:00] at a, a ballet event where he was performing, and I was mesmerized by this guy that, you know, had the dreadlocks and the black fingernails and the big rings and the jewelry and the black cool velvet clothing, and he's singing songs by, like, Frank Sinatra and America and, you know, uh, he, he'd asked me to...

Um, I sang with him many times, you know. Oh, I just love "Moon River." I mean, but yet he'll play Bob Marley and Aretha Franklin. I mean, he plays all kinds of music and, uh, he's just an amazing soul and spirit and has worked with so many nonprofits. And so I knew that the nonprofit community and just the community at large would come together to help him, and so that is what we are doing for this fundraiser to, as I said, help him get what he needs for rehabilitation, and we're doing it on August 20th at Wildwood, which is a kitchen and bar, and Clemon and I have played there [00:06:00] many, many times.

We made it free so everyone can come in because that's kind of the spirit of Clemon. He just has a very generous, warm, you know, whatever that island spirit is of Barbados, he embodies it. And so you can all come, but there are so many ways to donate at that event. We're gonna have free music, four different performers.

My band is one. I'll be doing the songs that we, Clemon and I played together, some of them. Um, and there will be ways to donate from, from pins and stickers to T-shirts, to trips to Hawaii, to signed King jerseys. You know, we have all kinds of stuff that runs the gamut for everybody of every level of financial resource.

It's hard because it is for the love of Clemon, and he is, he is so well adored and appreciated in this community. And Jeff, I can't even [00:07:00] tell you how generous people have become. The philanthropic, benevolent spirit that this has awakened in people. Uh, I mean, I don't even ask for donations. They have just poured in.

You know, they're like, "Clemon, how can I help?" I mean, that's how it's been. It's just been beautiful 

Jeff Holden: And this is that opportunity for all that he has given, for some to give back as he's in need at this point in time. And not only the event, the, the fundraiser on the 20th at Wildwood, we will have all that information in the show notes.

Great. But there's also, for those who can't attend, a GoFundMe page, and we'll have that link in as well. Do you know what the link address is? 

Kitty O'Neal: You know, I don't, and but I d- I also have a, um, I can give you that for sure. If you Google GoFundMe Clemon, it's there. Um, but we also have a 501[c][3] that has been established through Middle Way Health, which runs the Dharma Center, and Clemon [00:08:00] established something called Expressions, where all kinds of people could come, young artists who, you know, get their footing and performing live.

I mean, it's a beautiful thing and they're building a pavilion in Clemon's name. So if you would like the donation for the 501[c][3], I can send you that too, Jeff, and you can post that. So that's another way to donate. That's how we'll be donating at the event. 

Jeff Holden: Fantastic. Yeah, we will put that in the links as well, so for those who can't attend.

But it also sounds like it's gonna be an incredible gathering. Oh. And to do it free is, is amazing. 

Kitty O'Neal: Oh, yes. We have, uh, Marcus Allen, who's just a well-known TV personality, who's going to help emcee. Freddie Silvery, a professional, um, auctioneer, will be doing the auctions. Clemon's song, Delta Breeze, this Tuesday before on the 18th, is going to be recognized as the official Sacramento song.

So we'll have former city councilman Steve Hansen, uh, current city councilman, uh, Phil Pluckebaum will be there. Uh, Jeff Harris will be there. We have a lot of, uh, civic [00:09:00] and community leaders there. We have professional photographers who said, "Let's... Can we chronicle this?" I'm like, "Absolutely." I mean, it's gonna be a big community event.

Jeff Holden: And we wanna make sure, too, that the nonprofits know that, first of all, that, that Clemon needs some help, but secondly, that for a gentleman who has performed at their events over the course of all these years- Yes ... that they come out and, and some of their constituents and their philanthropic givers to say, "Hey, we need to support Clemon- 

Kitty O'Neal: Yes

Jeff Holden: for all the right reasons." And his family's gonna need it. The fact that his 84-year-old mom came from Barbados is amazing. I know. 

Kitty O'Neal: She's caring for him. 

Jeff Holden: Well, Kitty, I, I can't thank you enough for stepping up to help him. I mean, that's what friends do. Yes. And- You know, this, this is the community of friends through his nonprofits, and let's see what we can do to get more people out there, to get more people to contribute the variety of [00:10:00] options that they've got, whether it be the GoFundMe page or the, uh, the nonprofit organization.

And you are such a wonderful supporter of so many good causes in our community. I'm grateful that you're able to do this to help him. Let's keep our thoughts and prayers for his recovery and his family coming, because he needs all that support that he can get. 

Kitty O'Neal: Absolutely. 

Jeff Holden: Thank you for your time. I'm anxious to get this out so that we get in front of the, the event and people know, and there's a line out the door at Wildwood on the 20th.

Kitty O'Neal: That's what we're hoping for. Absolutely. 

Jeff Holden: Kitty, thank you, thank you, thank you. 

Kitty O'Neal: Thank you for this forum. Not only for this particular event, Jeff, but for giving all the nonprofits. People work so hard. You know, I have emceed a lot of events and attended a lot. I've never actually planned one. It is so much work, and my, uh, deep appreciation to all the nonprofits that not only do their galas and their [00:11:00] events, but that work that they do, you know, every day, every year to make a nonprofit sustainable and able to help whoever their goal is to, to support.

So I'm just, I'm just super gr- This, this experience, ha, hard as it is, has made me much more grateful and appreciative. So thank you for all you do. 

Jeff Holden: Kitty, we'll see you on the 20th. 

Kitty O'Neal: Great. See you there.

Jeff Holden: Thanks for listening. If you like our program, please subscribe, give us a positive review, and share with someone you know. This nonprofit podcast, NewsPod, is a production of Hear Me Now Studio