HERMITAGE Girl raises $1,000 for agency with help of self-recorded CD

The 12-year-old sang patriotic songs on her first CD.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- A Hermitage girl's love of music is going to help out some needy children next year.
Over the last few months Alexa Magnotto, 12, has raised more than $1,000 for Prince of Peace Center, a Farrell agency that provides emergency support services to indigent families.
She raised the money by accepting $10 donations for Prince of Peace and giving people a copy of a compact disc of patriotic music she recorded earlier this year.
Alexa plans to hand over the money this week.
"I was truly impressed that a young person such as Alexa would want to use a gift that she has to give back something to help other children. That, to me, is a marvelous spirit," said Sister Clare Marie Beichner, SSJ, director of Prince of Peace.
The Notre Dame School sixth-grader has asked that the money be used to help children.
Sister Clare Marie said it will likely be used to pay fees or buy equipment for children in sports programs or activities such as Boy Scouts.
Wanted to record: The idea to give away compact discs started with Alexa's desire to "cut" a CD, said her mother, Aileen Magnotto.
Alexa has always loved to sing, and when she was 9 years old Alexa was evaluated by a music guild that rated her voice as superior, her mother said.
She started voice lessons and has performed at NBA games, Youngstown State University and Kennedy Catholic High School.
Her parents, who own Shop-N-Save on East State Street, decided to surprise Alexa for her 12th birthday by arranging for her to record a CD at an area music studio.
After Sept. 11, Alexa decided that she would record the national anthem, "God Bless America" and "Ave Maria" in Latin and donate any proceeds to the needy.
Rotary donations: In addition to the CD, Alexa and her sister, Elysse, 14, who plays the piano, perform at area nursing homes and for local groups. It was a recent performance for the Sharon Rotary Club Christmas dinner that helped Alexa meet her $1,000 goal.
A $200 donation from an anonymous donor was delivered to Alexa on Christmas Eve at her family's store by a Rotary member.
"She had sold six that day and I told her we have 14 more to go to meet your goal. That's what made the donation so special," Aileen Magnotto said.
Family members spent their own money and time making the CD and copying it at their home. They are taking nothing from the donations to pay for it.
Alexa said she enjoyed the experience, signing each CD and handing over a small American flag to each buyer.
Preparing for future: She hopes to eventually fulfill her dream of singing professionally on Broadway. She takes voice lessons with Marcia Miot in New Castle and attends acting and theater class at the Pittsburgh Musical Theater.
Alexa said she hopes to make another CD, possibly of Christmas music, and donate proceeds to charity.
She said that singing "is a God-given talent and I just love it. It's my favorite thing to do."