PEOPLE PROFILE: Young singer Chelsea Pelsone raising funds for food bank

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MICHELE DELUCA/STAFF

June 19, 2009

By Michele Deluca<br><a href="mailto:michele.deluca@lockportjournal.com">E-mail Michele</a> The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Fri Jun 19, 2009, 10:50 PM EDT

Chelsea Pelsone has everything she needs to chase her dream as a singer.

She’s got the lithe frame, the dark hair that flows over her shoulders and a voice that reminds listeners of Jewel or Alanis Morissette.

The Lewiston-Porter High School junior even has her own little recording studio, which she shares with her singer-songerwriter father, John, whose music roots go back to the 1960s, when he sang with Top 40 bands dressed in fancy suits with slicked-back hair.

Chelsea has everything she needs — but, even more than that, she has a desire to be of service. A couple weeks ago it was raising money to cure cancer. These days, she’s trying to help feed the hungry.

She is the Niagara County coordinator of Tunes4food, which will culminate Monday with a 24-hour concert in front of Buffalo City Hall in an effort to raise money and food for the Food Bank of Western New York.

Pelsone is trying to gather the support of Niagara youth groups to get as much participation in the event as possible. All attendees are asked to bring canned goods and perishables for the food bank.

“The more people we can get involved, the more people we can help,” Pelsone said.

The event is being sponsored by Music in Action, a yearlong training program for young musicians created by Goo Goo Dolls band member Robby Takac and Bob James, a leadership consultant and a trainer for the Niagara Falls High School Power of One leadership program.

Pelsone is a participant in Music in Action and, as such, meets regularly with music industry representatives and performers who share their wisdom about the industry. She also is a recent graduate of the Leadership Niagara’s young leaders program called LYNC.

“I’ve been all over Niagara County because of LYNC, and it’s really made me love this place,” said Pelsone, who won a rising star award as a LYNC graduate in 2008.

Rich Laskowski who was executive director of Leadership Niagara when Chelsea participated, said she even stood out among the best of the best.

“Chelsea clearly stands out as one of the most outstanding potential future leaders in Niagara County,” Laskowski said of the singer.

Pelsone, who has won numerous awards for her community efforts, including the state’s Ann Irwin Award at the Youth Leadership Forum in Albany and a nomination for Woman of the Year by the Niagara County YWCA, was the team captain for her sophomore and junior class at the recent Relay For Life cancer fundraiser in Lewiston, where she also performed for participants.

She will perform again, along with a wide range of area musicians, at the Tunes4food 24-hour concert which begins at noon Monday and ends at 1 p.m. Tuesday.

She also is working on an album and then hopes to go to Nashville to begin pursuing her dreams to be a professional singer.

But, first, she wants to serve her community. “I’ve always been taught to give back,” said Pelsone who is very close with her father, John, her mother, Tammy, and her brother, Marco, 20.

“She’s just a great kid,” added her mom, Tammy. “I know other people say that about their kids, but Chelsea really is a great kid.”

Contact reporter Michele DeLuca at 282-2311, ext. 2263.

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