Arts4Humanity - "For The Benefit Of All"

Great question recently brought up in a LinkedIn Music Group.  Many equally great and very related answers were provided to which I could nearly say "all of the above."  Someone mentioned "pain relief," which is quite astute, touching on many levels and really hitting home with me.  I could simply claim this as reason enough but that would fall short.  When my body was smashed into many pieces I was 19, (2 years into my professional music career) my life passed over then was miraculously returned.  This second chance gave me a second sight, a rare extremely painful bone disease, constant creative drive and a desperate need to feel worthy, which I try to fulfill by offering my time and talents to Humanitarian Causes through A4H.  When immersed in writing (songs and/or freelancing for the industry), producing and most notably performing - my pain is eased far more than by any medication.  When I see toes are tapping, hear folks are singing along, I feel my music in it

I've read many insensitive remarks about the loss of the extremely talented Phillip Seymore Hoffman and they've gotten my goat.  Saying "addiction" is a choice and not a disease shows a total lack of empathy - dragons are being chased in corners of your world - I guarantee you.  It's truly an epidemic in our great land and for many reasons.  Here's one few are aware of - people from all walks of life have been severely injured in our great city's and treated in insanely busy hospitals with extremely addictive medications - it takes just one to be captured for some, then they're sent home with no proper "ween off" scripts. This leads to people seeking off the streets, far more often than anyone one realizes.  The medical profession itself, documents and admits to not knowing how to correct this horrible problem. I know this was not the case with Hoffman, his addiction battle was well documented, even on 60 minutes. He spoke of how he brook f