As persons continue to be affected by the fallout from the COVID-19 virus, reggae artiste Sophia Brown is the latest artiste to extend a helping hand to the country’s most vulnerable. In an interview with The Gleaner, the singer expressed that while things have been hard for her as an entertainer facing numerous cancelled gigs, she understands that there are persons worse off than she is who need essential items such as food and personal care supplies.
“It is hard for all of us as musicians. We have to travel to earn our income and in light of the lockdowns, that has been brought to a halt. We are trying to adapt to the new situation presented to us, using the Internet and online-based productions as the catalyst, and we are making things work. I wish I could say the same for some of our fellow Jamaicans,” she said. “I know there are people out there struggling right now to find food to put on their tables, and that’s why my team and I at the Angel of Heart Foundation decided to give back.”
Brown said while she would like to help everyone in need, her philanthropic efforts will be geared towards children living with Down syndrome, revealing that her niece was born with the condition in 2015. The children battling the disease have captured a special place in her heart. “Angel of the Heart Foundation was founded in the year 2015 when my niece, Heidi Buchanan, was born with Down syndrome. That’s what inspired me to start the foundation in the first place, and it has led me to be more sensitive to the children that have the condition. What made me even more devoted to giving back to these precious children was when Dr Charmaine Scott, who is the chairperson for the Jamaica Down Syndrome Foundation, revealed to me that each year more than 50 children are born with the disability in Jamaica. I just want to do everything I can to help make their lives a little easier, especially now,” she said. “I’m happy to say that I have successfully raised $153,000 for the Jamaica Down Syndrome Foundation which I handed over to Dr Charmaine Scott in May. There will be more things to come in the form of donations, because this is only the beginning.”
Brown says giving is second nature to her and putting smiles on someone else’s face gives her a feeling that’s indescribable. She went further to share that giving back is therapeutic and leaves her with a sense of satisfaction, knowing she can positively impact lives.
Brown, who’s recently recovered from a car accident, says she has been working assiduously to regain control of her music career. She is scheduled to drop a new EP in the coming months and says while she puts the finishing touches on that project, she will be treating her fans to a preview by dropping a few singles from the compilation. “We are getting ready to drop a new song from the EP titled Stronger. We just released the song Baby When You Left on Valentine’s Day, and so far it has done great things. We have seen it top charts, including the New York top 20 countdown, the South Florida reggae charts, Chris Coxson reggae charts in the UK, and the Colorful Reggae charts, also in the UK. I want the fans to get a taste of the new EP with these two songs, because it’s going to be a treat.”
