RRHS students organize second annual Harmonies of Hope event in RR

RIO RANCHO — An annual fundraiser for the Grief Center in Albuquerque is being held in Rio Rancho this year.

Last year’s organizers, Aaron Christensen and Jack Skousen, now sophomores at Rio Rancho High School, have returned and will host Harmonies of Hope at their school’s auditorium Aug. 23.

“It was mostly just the venue that we had didn’t really fit what we were hoping for, and also they didn’t have availability, I believe. So we started looking close to home and we found the Rio Rancho High School Performing Arts Center and were able to do that because we have connections to the school and they are willing to let us use their space for this great cause,” Christensen said.

The change of space allows them to also include more of the local groups like Rio Rancho Thespians.

There is another change with this year’s program. Last year, Harmonies of Hope did a dinner and a concert. This year there won’t be a dinner included.

“The only thing food we have now is concessions that you can buy. And now, we’re actually doing a nice little silent auction for our intermission where a bunch of companies and businesses are getting together, making baskets. There’s also going to be a grief center table out there,” Skousen said.

There will also be more acts in the performance, according to Christensen.

“Because we have a lot more time, we definitely added a couple new things. There’s going to be two main acts, you could say, with a 30-minute intermission,” he said.

Both Christensen and Skousen performed solo and group acts in last year’s Harmonies of Hope event. Christensen teased “Let It Be” by the Beatles for this year, but there will be others.

Skousen said it has been challenging to stay focused to get the event organized. “We get distracted very easily. But we’re working to reel in everybody so we can have really productive rehearsals, and everybody’s doing a great job practicing on their own, too.”

This is also not their first planned event, so they have learned a thing or two.

“We’ve learned a lot from last year, and like what we’re capable of. So, this year, me and Jack were trying to take charge of a couple more things so we can help take the stress off a little bit from our moms, who also do a lot to help us out,” Christensen said.

He said they have been working hard to get both monetary and in-kind donations for the grief center. Both boys have deeper meaning keeping them going with the grief center.

“A little short story, I was filling out a form for Raising Canes to hopefully have them help us with a raffle. But one thing my mom was saying is that this doesn’t only raise funds for the grief center, but it raises awareness of the grief center, and I have stories and people that I know, and that my parents know, that have actually benefited from going to Harmonies of Hope,” Christensen said.

The grief center provides provides support groups, workshops and resources for all who grieve; children, teens and adults alike.

Skousen said people can never get enough hope.

“We want everybody to feel, when listening to our music, listening to the Harmonies of Hope concert that it just really brings them up,” he said.

Christensen sees a need for the service as well.

“I would say, especially this past year or so, definitely, especially with the with the young community,” he said.

He added that the grief center is there for anyone’s needs. The Harmonies of Hope performance is an extension of that.

“It’s a really amazing thing to see and experience. They don’t have to come, but they’re missing out if they don’t come, because it really is amazing,” Skousen said.

The donation goal is $7,000 this year. Tickets are on sale for the event at griefnm.org. Donations will also be accepted up to and the day of the event.