jwilzewske: Gewinnspiele für Frieden

“Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life bringing peace, abolishing strife.”
— Kahlil Gibran
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
— Winston Churchill

DSM: Two years have passed since the tsunami hit Southeast Asia, extinguishing thousands of lives on Boxing Day, 26-DEC-2004, devastating the shores and coastal regions of Sri Lanka, Sumatra, Indonesia and Thailand. And this morning we have the coincidence of the earthquake in Taiwan with worries of a tsunami again.

CMT: It was remarkable how many classical and chamber music artists, composers, presenters, concert halls, and other organizations contributed to the 2005 relief effort, with their donations, benefit programs, and other gifts. In an era when the market size and relevance of classical music are in doubt, the tsunami relief efforts mounted by the classical music community affirmed the continuing social importance of classical music and its advocates.

Galle lacemakers, Power of Hands Foundation, 2005

DSM: The epithet ‘high-brow music’ was nowhere to be heard then. In fact, at certain moments in a people’s history there are no expressions that are more fitting or symbolically appropriate than those conveyed by classical works or chamber music. The
Verdi Requiem performed as a tsunami relief benefit in Leeds was one example. All performers, engineers and manufacturers gave their time and facilities for free, and the CD was sold with all profits to the Tsunami appeal.

CMT: And what about things like Lang Lang’s Gewinnspiel? Who did that benefit? I realize that, in German law, there’s the distinction between “Glücksspiel” (gambling) and “Gewinnspiel” (lottery), the latter being gambling without money being wagered. Since gambling is, in most jurisdictions, not legally permitted for not-for-profit organizations and “benefit” programs, it’s important that fund-raising efforts be set up as “Gewinnspielen”. In California and other U.S. states, charities and other private nonprofit organizations may conduct raffles to raise funds for beneficial or charitable purposes in the state provided that at least 90 percent of the gross receipts from these raffles go directly to beneficial or charitable purposes in the state of California. In other words, can be used to cover the NFP’s operating expenses that are payable to entities within the state, but evidently cannot be used to pay agencies’ fees for artists outside the state. In California, a nonprofit organization must register with the Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts prior to conducting the raffle and file financial disclosure reports on each raffle event. Defining the raffle or auction to avoid giving rise to a tax liability under 26 U.S.C.A. § 4945 (Internal Revenue Code) is essential, to prevent jeopardizing the nonprofit status. This has mostly to do with making sure that the use of raffle/auction proceeds conforms to the requirements of 501(c)(3).

DSM: I notice that Lang Lang’s Dragon Song Geschenkedition is in book form and contains the CD plus a Dragon Song DVD with documentation, interview, and music clips. Das Gewinnspiel is bereits beendet!