Megan Pennington

She wants to do only one thing with her music: change lives. Megan Pennington directs The Gold Tones Choir, a group comprised of high school, college and adult volunteers ages 14 and up that sings for different charities and organization in and around the Pittsburgh area, spreading joy and hope through music.

Megan has taken the choir to sing for events hosted by the American Diabetes Association, The Children’s Hospital, The Light of Life, The Residence at Weinberg Village, American Cancer Society and other groups. The nine Gold Tones singers also roll up their sleeves to help the community, raising money to advance the missions for the organizations where they have performed.

Growing up in a low-income family, Megan remembers the struggles her parents had to go through just to make ends meet. She found her safe haven in music, first becoming a charity choir director when she as a high school senior. Megan wanted to organize a singing group that would go out into the community and sing to inspire others and make a difference. She wanted to give those in need the same sense of peace and safety that she derived from music.

“Music is a universal language,” says Megan. “No matter the cause or the reason, the language or the culture, music can bring masses together and raise the spirits of just about anyone. Why would I want to keep my musical talents hidden and not share it with those around me?”

She puts her lyrical talents to use as a volunteer, providing encouragement and lifting up other partners in the community to keep up their great work. That makes Megan Pennington a Daily Point of Light. To nominate someone in your community doing exceptional volunteer work, visit http://www.pointsoflight.org/programs/recognition/dpol/nomination.