Special TCF Performance July 8

It was just announced that a special performance by international superstar Olivia Newton John, singer/songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman and Canadian singer/songwriter Amy Sky, will highlight Friday night, July 8, at the National TCF Conference, July 8-10 in Scottsdale, Arizona. The songs are designed to aid and comfort those working their way through the maze of grief and loss.

Olivia Newton John said, “This album is designed to uplift hearts burdened by grief while also bringing awareness and understanding that bereavement is universal to all human beings…with the ultimate goal being to bring comfort from the pain and loss.”

Keynote speakers were also announced. They include Alan Pedersen, opening ceremony speaker, who is the executive director of The Compassionate Friends USA; Nivia Vazquez, Saturday evening dinner speaker, and Steve Fugate, closing ceremony speaker.

Alan’s daughter Ashley was killed in August 2001 in a car accident. He is an award winning singer/songwriter and recording artist, writing songs about the experience of love, loss and trying to find life again after the death of a child. Alan has traveled all over the U.S. to more than 1,000 cities sharing his music and story and offering support and hope to others in grief. He has been awarded the TCF Professional Award by The Compassionate Friends and in 2011 he was named the Humanitarian of the Year by the Healing Hearts Foundation.

Nivia is the bereaved mother of Jose Francisco. He died in a car accident in 1993. She helped charter a TCF chapter in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She has also been a chapter leader for 15 years, a professional bilingual legal secretary, translator and a personal/spiritual coach. Nivia serves on the national board.

Steve, bereaved father, will speak at the closing ceremony. He lost his son to suicide at 26 and his daughter died of an accidental drug overdose six years later. He has walked across the U.S. eight times (43,000 miles in 6 years), each time with a message over his head, “LOVE LIFE.”Giving that message has helped to heal him also. "Giving that message has helped to heal me as well as some others."

For additional information on this conference, contact CompassionateFriends.org