My Publicist Note Book

Celebrate Recovery, a nationwide addiction recovery program, is working with Richmond’s Hillcrest Baptist Church to bring Sheila Raye Charles, daughter of musician and songwriter Ray Charles, to the community Friday. John Bledsoe, associate pastor of HBC and minister leader for the location’s Celebration Recovery program, cannot wait for Friday’s event in the church sanctuary, saying it will be “an incredible program” and that “when people come, they will see that healing and recovery is possible.” Gil Alford, co-leader of the program, agrees, especially in regards to her testimony. Both spoke about the mission behind Celebrate Recovery, specifically regarding one part: “Help those struggling with hurts, hang-ups and habits by showing them the loving power of Jesus Christ through the recovery process.” “She is the perfect person to come speak to that message,” Alford said. Charles has a difficult past. As the daughter of a music legend, she felt she “couldn’t live...

Saturday, June 23: A benefit for the children of Justin Gustafson will be held from 4 p.m. to midnight at Captain’s on Long Lake in Isanti. Gustafson died in a car accident on Dec. 24, 2011, and left behind a son, Dominick and newborn daughter Justina, who was born two weeks after his death. The benefit will feature special guest Sheila Raye Charles (daughter of Ray Charles), as well as bands Surgeon Generals, Soup Bones, News Getting Old and Troy Castellano. It will also include a silent auction, raffle and dinner. $20 donation includes the music and food, and raffle tickets are $5 per ticket or 5/$20. For more info visit http://troycastellano.com/JustinGustafson.htm .

The daughter of singer Ray Charles will headline the May 3 Minnesota Teen Challenge banquet. Sheila Raye Charles will speak about her life, perform with the choir and sing a medley of gospel songs. The banquet, to support the Central Campus of Teen Challenge in Brainerd, will be at Cragun's Resort. Tables of eight are available, as are individual tickets. There will be a silent auction. Sheila Raye Charles founded the One Way Up Prison Ministry in 2007 and speaks and sings at prisons, churches and other venues. Her ministry shares her hope and love to the hopeless and provides resources for inmates re-entering society. She was one of 12 children and moved often with her mother. With minimal attention, Charles ran away from home at age 15 and entered a life of drugs, violence and sexual abuse. She was addicted to cocaine for 15 years, served two sentences in federal prison and lost custody of her five children. During her second stint in prison, Charles op...