Tsunami Relief with Radio Disney, Chubby Checker, & Sesly Lorincz

Chubby Checker to Help Flint

Raise Funds for Tsunami Victims

February 10, 2005, Flint, MI--When Chubby Checker heard about a little girl from Flint who wanted to raise money for Tsunami victims, the famous trendsetter and entertainer was thrilled to help.  That’s why he agreed to make a special appearance at the Sesly’s Coins for Tsunami Relief Party on February 15^th at the Genesee Valley Center.

Chubby Checker is the 50s recording artist who changed the way people moved forever, gave rock ‘n’ roll its first official dance and unleashed a mania that is very rare in the music industry.  “The Twist” grabbed on nationally and internationally…Chubby Checker became a household name and he and his Twist were a hit and the world was stampeding to do the dance. 

Now, 40 plus years later, the man, Chubby Checker will show Flint the dance. The Tsunami Relief Party, taking place from 5:30 to 7:00, will feature a twist contest, a silent auction and a chance to meet the little girl who started the whole thing.  The Radio Disney dancers will be groovin’ with Chubby’s new version of The Limbo Rock, currently being played on the Radio Disney Network.

Sesly’s dad, Jody, had placed a call to Radio Disney AM 910 in January to find out if they could help facilitate his daughters desire to help the children who had suffered such devastating loss.  Station Manager Lesley Howe agreed and after a few calls to community friends, Sesly’s Coins for Tsunami Relief was born, as part of Radio Disney’s Mission to Kindness. 

Soon, there were piggy banks, made by listeners, all over town, collecting money for UNICEF.       

Sesly and her friends and family have been working hard these past few weeks to distribute piggy banks throughout the community in hopes of collecting spare change from sympathetic patrons.  Financial Plus Federal Credit Union has donated its time to collect and count the donations for the Tsunami Relief effort.

That’s not where it ends.  Accurate Bump and Paint in Clio heard a big pig was needed for display and collection near the King Arthur’s Castle at Genesee Valley Center. The staff, along with Jody and family friend Leon, went to work on cleaning and grinding a steel pig icon hanging out at Ferrellgas of Millington.  Sesly’s art teacher, Susan Davey took it from there.  She added the facial elements to make this giant mascot come to life.  Sesly’s dad Jody and Radio Disney’s Miss Firecracker picked the sweet swine up and Sesly joined them in delivering the 500 pound piggy bank, riding it through Genesee Valley Center to the JCPenney court where it is currently residing. 

The giant piggy bank, called “Princess Pigsess” has two conveniently located slots on either side of her to deposit coins.  The collection will continue until the end of February.  A final count with Financial Plus Federal Credit Union will happen sometime in early March.

It’s not too late to help!  Piggy banks are still available at the customer service desk at Genesee Valley Center to fill and are located at 50 plus local businesses in the area.  Not to mention the giant Princess Pigsess.  For more information contact Lesley Howe at Radio Disney at 810.695.9333 or Genesee Valley Center’s customer service desk at 732.4006.  Information is also available at geneseemall.com and radiodisney.com.