Musician donates $1K to Mount Carmel, Make A Wish

Local musician John Aldan Ichihara donated on Monday a percentage of his sales of his Christmas album that he recorded with his daughter, Roselle Ichihara Carreon.

Ichihara and Carreon presented a $500 check each to Mount Carmel Cathedral and the Make A Wish Foundation.

Ichihara’s Island Family Productions produced and released Kantan Niñu: Season’s Greetings Here Again, which features 10 Christmas songs in English and Chamorro.

“I want to give back to the community and this is one way of using my talent,” Ichihara, who has been a musician for over 40 years, told Saipan Tribune in an interview.

Ichihara, who made a donation last year to the NMI Japan Disaster Relief following the March tsunami and earthquake, said he chose the Make A Wish Foundation to be the recipient because he likes what they are doing to make children’s wishes come true.

He also selected the Mount Carmel Cathedral as a recipient since he helped another church, the San Vicente Church, last year.

“I wanted to donate more but it’s hard when people don’t buy the CD so we thank everybody in the community who helped us. We really appreciate them going out of their way despite the economic conditions of the island. A very big thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” said Ichihara.

Carreon, a teacher at Oleai Elementary School, said the Christmas album was a way for her and her father to share with the rest of the community the bond they have through music.

“I love my dad so much and he’s given me the gift of music. I wanted to help my dad fulfill his dream and I truly support him,” she said.

A member of the San Vicente choir, Carreon believes that music is a universal language that unites people together. “It’s a way of expressing ourselves and being able to touch someone else,” she added.

Carreon also expressed her appreciation to all those who bought their CD and allowed them to donate to worthy causes.

“With everything that’s happening in our economy right now, the purpose of this CD is not to make money but to share the music,” she said. “Thank you to everyone who’s listened to it and enjoyed it.”

Fr. Ryan P. Jimenez thanked Ichihara for “using one’s talent for God’s greater glory.”

“We really appreciate the gesture,” said Jimenez, adding that the donation will be added to the funds they have so far raised for the overall maintenance of the cathedral.

Angela Yamashita-Santos, Saipan board member of the Make A Wish Foundation, also expressed her gratitude to the Ichihara family.

“It’s with the good hears of the people who donate to our organization that we’re able to grant the wishes of our children with life-threatening illnesses and make their lives a little bit happier, a little bit sweeter,” she said.

Ichihara disclosed that he has plans to record all his original songs in one greatest hits album, the proceeds for which will also be donated to another organization.