Big dreams could have died along with 11-year-old Avery McCarthy, when her life suddenly ended in October 2012, but her mom just won’t have that.
Bridget McCarthy is making sure to keep her daughter’s dreams alive with the Seeds of Faith concert at 7 p.m. April 18 at the Young Auditorium on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater campus.
Christian contemporary artist Jamie Grace will headline the show, which will raise funds for the Avery House to be built in Haiti. The Lakeland Community Church Worship Team, led by Lisa Amstutz, will open the concert.
Avery McCarthy was a sister, a student, an actress, a dancer, a gymnast, a swimmer, a volleyball player and a lover of Jesus Christ. She grew up in Delavan, but her heart was with the children of Haiti. Her dream was to one day move to Haiti and live in an orphanage where she could take care of all of the children and teach them about God’s love.
Avery died before she was able to see that dream come true, but with each passing day, her survivors grow closer to realizing her goal. The Avery House will be a transitional home for young women who are aging out of the orphanage system. The home will help to keep the girls safe as they continue their education.
“We’re giving them a chance to live a full life. Currently, when young ladies turn 18 they are packed up, driven away from the orphanage and dropped off somewhere to fend for themselves,” said Bridget McCarthy. “Typically, they find an older man who is willing to ‘provide’ for them, which can often lead to both physical and sexual abuse. Survival is all they are concerned with. By continuing their education and developing skills in fields they are passionate about, these girls might actually have a shot at improving their country from within. The hope is that they’ll even come back to the orphanage as adults to help encourage the next generation.”
McCarthy’s group, AVERYday Ministries, needs to raise $50,000 to build and sustain the transitional home. Its next step is the Seeds of Faith Concert featuring Jamie Grace and the Lakeland Community Worship Team on April 18. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling the box office at (262) 472-2222.
People who can’t attend the concert but would like to make a donation to the Avery House, may do so by going to www.youcaring.com and searching “The Avery House.”
