Arturo Echarte of Indialantic is using his musical talent for higher purposes. The organization he founded
, Acoustic for a Change, plays for free at qualified charity and fundraising events and donates to charity the fees for playing at private parties, weddings, socials, cocktail and dinner parties and corporate events.
“The whole thing is Christian-based. I’ve played in a lot of church bands but I fell in love with a more mellow, solo-finger picking kind of thing,” he said. Originally from South Florida, Echarte has been in Brevard County about 15 years. Echarte’s charity work is enabled by his long-successful mailing business called Postal Center International, founded in Fort Lauderdale.
“God has blessed us
, and I like to give back rather than charge for playing. I don’t mind being background music. I love creating an ambience for people to enjoy,” he said. Sales of his personal CD “Acoustic Survivor” also result in proceeds to be donated to charity, he said. The response has been so good that he has branched out to also include other musicians. Among the organizations that have benefited from Acoustic for a Change are the Space Coast Cancer Center and the Space Coast Early Intervention Center.
“If it’s a qualified charity, we play free of charge. If not, or if it’s a private party, we charge fees and donate the money to charity,” he said. And finally, Echarte collects unwanted instruments of all kinds to be donated to kids from lower income families. So far
, he has a donated trumpet, autoharp and clarinet. “I’ve gotten a huge response so far but a lot of people don’t know we’re out here. The key is getting the word out,” he said.
For bookings or more information, contact Arturo Echarte at arturoe@acousticforchange.com or on Facebook.
