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Wedding Gift Becomes $2 Million Charity Powerhouse
28 Oct
Summary
- Song written for a wedding raised over $2 million for charity.
- Royalties from "Wedding Song" were directed to social causes.
- The initiative evolved into the nonprofit Music to Life.
In 1971, Noel Paul Stookey released "Wedding Song (There Is Love)," a piece originally composed for Peter Yarrow's wedding. Stookey, a member of the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, decided to donate all royalties from the song to charity. This decision stemmed from his belief that the song was a spiritual gift, not solely his creation.
Through the Public Domain Foundation, established by Stookey, the song's earnings exceeded $2 million, benefiting various social and charitable causes. This foundation also supported music that addressed social concerns and helped artists connect their work with change-oriented organizations.
The charitable legacy of "Wedding Song" continued to evolve, leading to the creation of Music to Life around 2000 with Stookey's daughter, Liz Sunde. This nonprofit organization supports musicians in addressing social problems, offering training and mentorship. Music to Life became an official nonprofit in 2018, developing programs like the Musician Changemaker Accelerator to foster music-led activism.
