Mayer has melded a unique and multi-faceted writing style, a distinctive voice, and inspired musicianship to create compelling and accessible music that is electrifying in live performance. Mayer has culled influences from his childhood in India that ranged from traditional Indian music to The Beatles, and from his studying and teaching Jazz guitar at Webster University in St. Louis, MO. Add the many years that he has shared the stage with Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band, James Taylor, Mac McAnally, Sonny Landreth, Don Henley and others, and you begin to trace the musical storyline of the Peter Mayer Group.

Each December, the Peter Mayer Group embarks on its Christmas Tour, Stars and Promises. For many, these 16 or 17 performances kick off the Christmas-Holiday season and have become both a thrilling and meaningful part of their celebration. These performances feature a collection of original and traditional Christmas music played by an expanded musical cast that include guest artists such as noted Native Flute player Mark Holland, local children’s and bell choirs in select areas, and the beautiful scenery and sonic presentation brought on board by the production of Chad Stewart and Stewart Sound.

The Stars and Promises tour has continued to grow, seeing frequent sellout crowds since its inception in 2000. In 2010, the group rang in the holiday season with its most ambitious tour to date, celebrating its tenth anniversary with a tour that thrilled audiences across the country.

A favorite part of the evening for the audiences is the Meet and Greet after each performance. “I don’t believe music in live performance is just a process of rolling into town, playing a show for the people, taking a bow, and then rolling out again,” says Mayer. “I believe each time we, the musicians, play we should be part of the audience of those who came for a one-night-only experience, and I consider the audience to be a part of the band in the sense that they take the music in and give it back to us with their unique energy, making it come alive in a brand new way each time.“

Due to the Meet and Greet seating is limited, so log onto http://peteyspromise.org/shop/en/45-stars-and-promises-concert.html for tickets before Petey sells them all!

CONCORD, N.C. – What started out as a fun idea to complete his school project and bring awareness to his mom’s non-profit pet food bank turned into a labor of love for 10-year-old Chase Carey of Concord and resulted in a Guinness World Record.

Carey, a fifth-grader at W.R. Odell Elementary School and a member of the school’s Academically and Intellectually Gifted program, had to complete a 50-hour community service project. The son of non-profit, Petey’s Promise, founder Liz Mellott, he thought using crayons would be a great way to get children and adults to look at the harder side of pet ownership and to support the Petey’s Promise, which offers assistance to struggling pet owners throughout the Greater Charlotte area.

The charity is close to both Mellott and Carey’s heart as they faced losing their lab-spaniel mix when as a single mom Mellott was forced to make hard choices to survive financially. Luckily, they were able to keep Petey and when she got back on her feet, the non-profit was born. Since its inception in 2008, Petey’s Promise has fed more than 4,000 animals.

“We were lucky to keep Petey, and it makes me sad to think there are kids who lose their pets because their parents can’t feed them. I am very proud of my Mom and Petey’s Promise,” Carey said. “So I thought it would be fun to combine my project with it.”

Gathering more than 80,000 crayons over the course of five months, Chase talked everyone he knew into helping with the project. The plan was to melt all the crayons and assemble the almost 10-foot crayon on Oct. 29 at The Village Church in Concord during the Coloring for Critters Fall Festival and to unveil it in the late afternoon.

Physics, however, had other ideas. The massive crayon, which would eventually stand 9 feet 9 ¾ inches tall and weigh an impressive 731 pounds, was going to take a little longer than a few hours to assemble. With the help of lots of friends, family and members of the community, Carey and his engineers (his father, Ben Carey, and other employees of Roush-Yates Engines) had assembled the base of the crayon by 3 p.m., but that is when things started to go wrong.

Even with six months of testing, no one really knew how much time it would take 700 pounds of hot crayon wax to solidify. There were also unforeseen complications when the group went to attach the cone as the hot wax seeped out of the mold. The decision was made to let the crayon solidify for at least 48 hours to ensure it would hold.

“The best laid plans, right? It became apparent early in the day that this was going to be more about forgoing the plans of Coloring for Critters and more about an all-out thrash to make sure Chase met his goal,” said Mellott. “We had people in the community jumping in to buy crayons and peel crayons on site – just helping out any way they could to make sure we made that crayon. There is always time for festivals, games and other fundraising activities, but you only get the chance to make the world’s largest crayon once. At least if I have anything to say about it.”

Despite the setbacks, Chase and Petey’s Promise would not be denied their record. It might have taken an extra couple days, but the World’s Largest Homemade Crayon, Petey’s Passion, was completed at approximately 7 p.m. on Halloween night while trick-or-treaters were out in full force and photos with the crayons were in high demand. It broke the previous record held by a group in Hinesville, Ga., whose crayon set the record at 9 feet 8 inches, 605 pounds.

“I love it, but I’m done with crayons for a while,” Carey laughed. “I think it is cool that we’re going to be in the Guinness Book of World Records with the world’s largest crayon. I really want to thank everyone that helped and donated, especially my Mom and Dad.”

Coloring for Critters presented by Crocktees benefits Petey’s Promise and the W.R. Odell Elementary’s AIG program. The group is still working to meet their fundraising goal.

“It was a really ambitious project, and I think Chase has learned the magnitude of what he has done, the attention it garnered and is proud of the six months of hard work he has put in,” Mellott said. “However, at that point, I think he was ready to put on his costume and just be a kid again.”

And we need YOUR help to do it!

PLEASE donate crayons – new or used – by emailing peteyspromise@gmail.com.

On Saturday, October 29th, come out to The Village Church Field for:

• Food
• Craft Booths
• Pet Booths
• Silent Auctions
• and More!

The Village Church Field is located at 9280 Davidson Highway, Concord, NC 28027 – beside Coddle Creek Animal Hospital (see map).

Event will be from 10am to 2pm – RAIN or SHINE

Interested in helping on a sponsorship level?

Pick your sponsorship:

Petey’s Passion Sponsor – $250
Primary sponsorship branding on all printed promotional materials including t-shirts and media releases; 10′ x 10′ premium booth location at event, 4 event t-shirts for sponsors/attendees

Razzmatazz Sponsor – $150
Associate sponsorship branding on all printed promotional materials including t-shirts and media releases; 10′ x 10′ premium booth location at event; 2 event t-shirts for sponsors/attendees

Aquamarine Sponsor – $75
Associate sponsorship branding on all printed promotional materials including t-shirts; 10′ x 10′ premium booth location at event

Electric Lime Booth Participant – $45
10′ x 10′ booth space

Sponsorship deadline (for shirts only) is OCTOBER 15. Booth space is available until OCTOBER 28. Please click here to access our online sponsorship form.

Current Sponsors:

• The Price Family
• The Village Church
• Roush-Yates
• Race City Steel
• Crock Tees
• Bizzy Bees

The event, Coloring for Critters, will take place Oct. 29 at The Village Church on Highway 73 in Concord. All proceeds will benefit Petey’s Promise and the AIG Program at W.R. Odell Elementary School.

Chase came up with the idea to make the world’s largest crayon for his AIG Community Service project after reading about a group of students in Georgia who set the current record at 9’8”. Getting Petey’s Promise involved was a no-brainer for the 5th grader since the organization is named for his family’s own rescued spaniel-lab mix. He understands exactly how scary it is to face giving up your pet because your family is struggling financially. It was why his mother founded Petey’s Promise.

“We almost had to give up Petey when I was little, and it was really scary for my mom and I,” Chase said. “I always want to help Mom feed more pets, and I am really excited about the chance to break the Guinness World Record for the crayon.”

Petey’s Promise is the only pet food bank in the region, serving greater Concord and Charlotte. The non-profit offers assistance to struggling pet owners so the pet owner can keep and maintain their beloved pets despite their financial situation.

“Chase and I know from personal experience how devastating it can be to face losing your pet. I was a single mom, and I wasn’t sure I would be able to support us and Petey. Luckily I did, but now that we are able, it is important to him and I that we make sure other families don’t have to face the same decisions,” Mellott said. “Petey’s Promise has fed more than 3,000 pets in just a little more than three years. I am so proud of Chase and his dedication to Petey’s Promise and the Coloring for Critters event. Now, we just need to break that crayon record.”

Carey and Petey’s Promise are currently collecting crayons, asking local businesses and the public to donate old, used or broken crayons to help make the 10’ crayon. Sponsorship opportunities and booth space for the Coloring for Critters event are also available.

If you would like to donate crayons or participate in the event, please visit www.peteyspromise.org or contact Mellott at peteyspromise@gmail.com.

Join us Wednesday, August 10 from 6pm until …. at Galway Hooker Restaurant and Irish Pub for Happy Hour. Enjoy drink specials and a new menu, while hanging with your best friend – dogs are allowed on the patio!

We will hold a silent auction for an autographed piece of salvaged NASCAR sheet metal, a 50/50 raffle and have our dramatically reduced $2 grab bag of items, as well as our Petey’s Promise tees, available for purchase.

Visit Galway Hooker online to preview their menu and click here to stay up-to-date on the weather in Cornelius.

17044 Kenton Drive • Cornelius, NC 28031 • (704) 895-1782 • www.galwayhookerpub.com

THEN, on Thursday:

If you can’t join us on Wednesday, PLEASE do not forget to sign into Facebook on Thursday, August 11 and vote for Petey’s Promise in Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program.

For those that don’t know, Petey’s Promise – Provisions for Pets in Need, is one of 500 finalists in Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program, which will award vehicles to 100 nonprofit organizations based on votes from the public.

Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program will showcase five non-profit organizations each day for 100 days on Toyota’s Facebook page, facebook.com/toyota. Visitors to the page can vote once a day for the organization that they feel is most deserving of a new Toyota vehicle. Petey’s Promise will be one of the five organizations highlighted for voting on Thursday, August 11th.

Everyone is encouraged to support Petey’s Promise and their quest for a new Toyota Tundra. If Petey’s Promise receives the most votes and is awarded the vehicle, it will be used to pick-up and deliver large quantities of pet food to be distributed to applicants striving to keep their pets and families together.

Well, not literally this time.  W.R. Odell Elementary students competed in a writing contest and one entry was about our own Petey’s Promise. Enjoy!

When I got my dog, Petey, I was two years old. I picked him because all the other dogs were German shepards. He was, and still is, by my side. It was tough for my mom and me to grow up with Petey because we were on our own and didn’t have much money for extras like dog food. So, we almost had to let go of Petey and it was scary at that time, but we still have Petey.

When I had a bad day, or got hurt I would start to cry and as soon as Petey heard this, he would come up to me and lick me, and it would make me feel better. When I saw my friends and they said they want a dog it made me grateful to have Petey. Petey makes everybody in the family happy.

His favorite place to be is at my grandmother’s farm. One of his favorite things to do is run around there. Even though everybody in my family likes Petey, the person in my family that he liked the most was my great-grandfather. When he told Petey that’s enough he would still play, lick, and drool.

In 2008 my mom found out that there were no pet food non-profits in Charlotte and because people were losing their job, everybody was having to let go of their pets because they didn’t have enough money to pay for their food. But nobody likes to let go of little cute kittens, puppies, and hamsters.

So, when that happened my mom started a non-profit called Petey’s Promise and www.peteyspromise.org, so nobody has to let go of their pets anymore. But now we have made a difference in most peoples life when they have no money.

Toyota to Donate Vehicle to Local Nonprofit Organizations Based on Public Votes

HARRISBURG, N.C. – May 2, 2011 – Harrisburg-based organization,  Petey’s Promise – Provisions for Pets in Need,  is one of 500 finalists in Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program, which will award vehicles to 100 nonprofit organizations based on votes from the public beginning May 9, 2011.

Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program will showcase five non-profit organizations each day for 100 days on Toyota’s Facebook page, facebook.com/toyota. Visitors to the page can vote once a day for the organization that they feel is most deserving of a new Toyota vehicle.  Petey’s Promise will be one of the five organizations highlighted for voting on Thursday, August 11th.

Local residents are encouraged to support Petey’s Promise and their quest for a new Toyota Tundra. If Petey’s Promise receives the most votes and is awarded the vehicle, it will be used to pick-up and deliver large quantities of pet food to be distributed to applicants striving to keep their pets and families together.

About Petey’s Promise – Provisions for Pets in Need
Petey’s Promise is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization that seeks to provide temporary food and pet-care items for pet owners who might otherwise be forced to surrender their pets to a shelter. With our help, disadvantaged pet owners are able to keep their animals, as pets are not only considered part of the family; they offer emotional support during trying times.

For more information, or to apply for assistance, visit http://www.peteyspromise.org.

About Toyota.
Toyota (NYSE: TM) established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants, including one under construction.  Toyota directly employs nearly 30,000 in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at more than $18 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design.

Toyota is committed to being a good corporate citizen in the communities where it does business and believes in supporting programs with long-term sustainable results. Toyota supports numerous organizations across the country, focusing on education, the environment and safety. Since 1991, Toyota has contributed more than $500 million to philanthropic programs in the U.S.

For more information on Toyota’s commitment to improving communities nationwide, visit http://www.toyota.com/community.

Media Contact:
Liz Mellott
Petey’s Promise – President & Founder
(980) 355-4408 – mobile
peteyspromise@gmail.com

# # #

Requested Donations Follow:

• Cat or Small Dog: $1 per pick-up
• Med Dog: $2 per pick-up
• Large Dog (75lbs or over): $5 per pick-up

Remember, this is not per animal, just per pick-up. This is also a request only, not a mandatory fee. So, if you are unable to donate, please do not let that keep you from asking for assistance.

If you weren’t at BlackFinn Charlotte on Friday, February 25th, then you missed one great fundraiser. For $10 you could buy a wristband that would allow you access to the private Petey party, that came complete with great drink specials and food. You also missed some fun raffles as we did a 50/50 drawing and a drawing for a massage donated by Rocky River Therapeutic Massage in Harrisburg, NC.

Speaking of raffles, the highlight of our night was awarding “Tall Paul” the winning 50/50 ticket, as well as getting our pictures made with him and his entire group of friends. You certainly meet a lot of fun, if not interesting, characters in Charlotte.

We do want to thank Courtney Maddox and the entire staff of the BlackFinn for being such great supporters! Please, if you are out for a night of dinner and drinks in downtown Charlotte, head to the BlackFinn as we love to help those who help us!

If you were unable to join us at the BlackFinn, we certainly have several more fundraisers for you to participate in, or you can simply log onto www.peteyspromise.org to donate. Remember, 100% of all donations are utilized solely for Petey’s Promise.

Can’t make it to the event? No worries! You can still participate in the 50/50 Raffle.

Visit our store to purchase your raffle tickets today and tomorrow to be eligible for the drawing. We will pull tickets off the roll in the order they are purchased, scan the images and email to you for your records.

• 1 Ticket = $1
• 3 Tickets = $2
• 7 Tickets = $5

February 25, 2011 7 – 9pm @ BlackFinn American Saloon

Specials:

• $3 Domestic Drafts
• $4 House Wines
• Featured Cocktail: The Petey-tini
• Chef’s choice light hors d’oeuvres will be served

There will also be a 50/50 raffle!

Purchase your tickets now and SAVE!

Order online before 02/25: $7
Door price: $10

Check in will be located in front of the private bar. Your name will appear on the check in list; no physical tickets are issued for this event. Must be 21+

BlackFinn American Saloon is located in the EpiCenter
210 East Trade Street • Charlotte, NC 28202-2413
(704) 971-4440 • blackfinncharlotte.com