Folk Legend Benefits NW Philly Schools

If little Jackie Paper loved that rascal Puff, did the other kids make fun of him?

If I'm leavin' on a jet plane, is it because you laugh at me?

When I'm 500 miles away from home, can I find some respect?

If I had a hammer, would I hit someone?

If this land is your land, will you let me in?

Don't think twice it's alright, the answer is blowin' in the wind.

If these lines make sense to you:
(a) you're a folkie,
(b) you live in Mt. Airy,
(c) you're a flower child,
(d) you're a child of a flower child, or
(e) all of the above.

If they don't make sense, then like me you may need to Google a guy named Peter Yarrow.

Or if even Google is to slow for your information acquiring needs: Peter Yarrow is the Peter of Peter, Paul and Mary. Yeah, that Peter. Who knew they had last names? (If you're still stumbling here, talk to anyone who fits items a - e, above.)

Peter, Paul and Mary are still at it. In fact, you can catch them at The Kimmel Center on June 3rd.

In his life away from the others, with a real social conscience and dedication to making the world a better place, Peter has created an organization, Operation Respect: Don't Laugh at Me. OR is a non-profit organization working to transform schools, camps and organizations focused on children and youth, into more compassionate, safe and respectful environments.

April 22, 4:00 p.m., Peter will perform in concert at Henry Houston School, showcasing many of the songs that made "Yarrow," along with "Travers" and "Stookey" (not to mention "Noel") superfluous around the world. Peter will also perform his own works, and focus on the message of Operation Respect: Don't Laugh at Me. Tickets for this concert are $5 for students, $10 for adults, and $100 for preferred seating and a bonus autographed copy of the Peter, Paul and Mary special edition CD, In these Times. Advanced ticket purchase is required: contact your northwest Philadelphia school for information.

After the Houston School concert, Peter will join folks at an intimate dinner and in-home concert in Mt. Airy. Tickets for this intimate affair range from $250 to $1,000, with benefits (based on ticket level) including signed copies of In These Times, boxed sets of PPM CDs, tickets to PPM's June 3 concert at The Kimmel Center, and dinner with Peter after the June 3 concert. For more information about the in-home dinner and concert, email: kbweinstein@comcast.net or kholdsma@smtp.aed.org.

Proceeds from both concerts will go into a fund at East Mt. Airy Neighbors to provide materials and training for teachers and schools to implement Operation Respect: Don't Laugh at Me in public and private schools throughout northwest Philadelphia.