Experience Hope Sunday is an honest and inspiring journey to Africa that introduces viewers to two young children that have been orphaned by the HIV/Aids pandemic and face a perilous journey to their only remaining family.  The story is truly compelling.  World Visions seeks to raise awareness for children and families all over the world using the story Derek and Margaret, the two young children from the film.  Believe Pictures produced the film and Synergy Production Group is producing the event and has put together two teams that will be traveling with exhibits across the country.

Once again, Synergy is very proud to be working to improve the lives of others by partnering with an outstanding organization like World Vision.  We are greatly looking forward to the results this exhibit will produce.

If you would like your church to be involved, it’s quite simple.  The event is free to host!  I will be posting details regarding the process of signing up as soon as the website is finished.

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One of the hardest tasks to do is to say good-bye. Over the past three months, I have gained experiences that I will cherish forever. My time at Synergy Production Group is coming to an end and I wanted to write about an event I was able to be a part of recently. This last weekend, I was given the opportunity to go on tour with Amy Grant. This show was in Detroit and it was particularly special because Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith were co-headlining the evening. From the time I stepped onto the tour bus to the moment we arrived back in Nashville, I was surrounded by the nicest people. Everyone from the crew to the band was extremely friendly and down to earth. This group of people combined is tremendously talented, but it was encouraging to see that everyone was still humble and genuine. My job while at the venue was production assistant. I did everything from hanging up signs to organizing the VIP passes and tickets. It was a great experience to actually see what happens behind the scenes preparation wise to make a concert actually run. The music that evening was phenomenal! Both Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith are talented performers and passionate about what they do. It was wonderful for both of them to be on stage together performing again. Seeing the concert from stage left was neat and feeling that energy from the stage was unforgettable! Being on this tour was a perfect ending to a wonderful summer and I will never forget that evening!!

To all of my co-workers at Synergy: Thanks for your support and love these past three months. I wouldn’t trade the experiences I have gained for the world and I feel extremely blessed to have known each and every one of you.

With Love,

Jessica Beard

On July 31st, 2010 Synergy Production Group produced the first ever Hoops Of Hope All Stars event at the King Of Prussia mall. Over 300 free shooters from the surrounding Philadelphia area raised money in the local community for Aids Orphans in Africa. The event went off without a hitch due to the team effort of Synergy and CTS audio. 18 months of planning, 25 years of experience, and sheer determination pulled this first year event together for an absolute success.

Dave Barnes, Francesca Battistelli, and The After took the stage to give musical color to the evening in front of a packed crowd. Austin Gutwein, who founded of Hoops of Hope when he was only 9 years old, spoke on behalf of World Vision. Over 30 African children were sponsored and thousands of free-throw shooting dollars were raised for the cause. Check out some photo highlights of the event:

Welcome Taylor!

“Regular physicals and learning about your body personally is the very first step in monitoring any changes in your health. Not everyone who gets cancer will die from cancer when detected early! Earlier detection often equates to more successful treatment. In addition to scheduling a physical exam, here are some tips for monitoring your health for early detection and cancer prevention:

- Be physically active everyday for 30-60 minutes. Exercise is good for the mind and the body.

- Eat well. Include fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy and lean protein. Eat fewer processed foods and more whole foods. HINT: Whole foods have short ingredient lists. J

- Manage your weight. At least six cancer types are linked to being overweight or obese.

- If you smoke or chew tobacco, QUIT.

- Wear sunscreen when outside with at least SPF 15 and avoid the sun during peak hours of 10am and 2pm.

- Get vaccinated for Hepatitis B since this infection is linked to liver cancer

- Avoid risky behaviors that may lead to infections such as sexually transmitted diseases, hepatitis B and C, and HIV.

- Pay attention to any skin changes as well as bladder and bowel habits.

- If your place of employment offers health screenings of any kind, participate!”

To read the rest of this great article visit the Minnie Pearl Foundation here:  http://minniepearl.org/blog/

For information about the event, you can visit the Hoops of Hope All-Stars website at www.hoopsofhopeallstars.com

Recently Synergy had the opportunity to work once again with our long time client WAYFM Louisville. We produced the May 14th United Tour featuring Sanctus Real, David Nasser, Johnny Diaz, and Mikeschair. The show was an absolute success as WAYFM brought the first large-scale concert to Southeast Christian Church’s Indiana Campus.

In order to honor our clients we always send out a small token of appreciation. In honor of WAYFM and earth day last month, Synergy planted 50 desperately needed native pine, fir, and cedar trees in the Plumas National Forest (www.fs.fed.us/r5/plumas/) through the Arbor Day Foundation. The Arbor Day Foundation’s mission is simple: inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. Through a simple gift giving program supporters can plant trees in honor of clients, friends, and family members. Check it out: http://www.arborday.org/shopping/tictim/TICSample.cfm

June 6th is National Cancer Survivors Day and a result Synergy has chosen to feature an organization that is on the front lines of cancer recovery, The Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation.

The Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation started as The Cancer Education and Research Council in 1987 by Dr. Thomas Frist, Sr. and Dr. Steven Stroup. Eventually is was named in honor of the comedienne “Minnie Pearl”, also known as Sarah Cannon, after she was treated for breast cancer. The treatment was successful and Minnie allowed the foundation to be renamed using her stage name. Today, this organization is funded by corporate and private donations, all of which are supported by Minnie’s loving family and friends. It thrives on honoring Minnie Pearl and her caring spirit for those in need. Some of the organization’s core values include: compassion, credibility, innovation and objectivity.

This is a local organization that is recognized nationally as the nonprofit cancer organization for adults with cancer. Through many local events, including music festivals, The Minnie Pearl Foundation is able to raise awareness and collect donations to further their support in battling cancer everywhere. If you would like to read more about The Minnie Pearl Foundation and look at their calendar of upcoming events, you can visit their website at www.minniepearl.org.

How many expectations can a “college-aged-soon-to-be intern” have before arriving at their first Nashville internship? The answer to that question is a numerous amount, to say the least. After speaking with them over the phone concerning the internship while I was in Waco, TX, I knew I was going to experience many new and exciting things when I moved to Tennessee for the summer. What exactly did I picture before arriving? I thought Synergy Production Group would feel somewhat new but experienced, comfortable but professional, fun but educational. All of these expectations have been met and the experience has even exceeded what my imagination drew in my head.  From the moment I walked in, I felt a wave of fresh energy within the environment. All my coworkers are motivated, energetic and have a great amount of experience that I am honored to be learning from. Once I met the employees at CTS Audio, I felt the exact same way. There are people I have yet to meet, but the ones I have met embody the same energy and kind spirits as the employees at Synergy. Even on the first day here, I experienced a level of comfort that one usually feels after a few weeks of working at a new company. However, there is a good balance between the comfort level and the employees’ professional attitudes used during the workday. Striving for the best is one of the characteristics you can count on from Synergy in every aspect of the company I’ve worked with so far. I love how everybody seems to be having fun and enjoying themselves, but at the same time they are constantly educating one another on better ways to improve the business. Interning for a company that is constantly growing and improving is the best kind to be involved with. I am looking forward to the many experiences I will be a part of this summer. I know that whatever I’m doing or whoever I’m working alongside, I will be gaining memories and experience that are priceless; this is a great feeling to encounter. Synergy couldn’t be a better fit and I can’t wait to get to know everyone I’m working with even better over the next couple of months!