[Rush donates $100,000 to rights museum]

Here's some news regarding the latest of Rush's many charitable contributions. For the New Orleans show last month the band donated $100,000 from the proceeds to the Katrina relief effort. Now it's Canada's turn. The band donated $100,000 of the ticket sales from this past Saturday's show in Winnipeg to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. From the Winnipeg Free Press:

The members of Canadian rock band Rush have donated $100,000 from the sale of tickets to last weekend's Winnipeg concert to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

The three band mates -- Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart -- also announced today they will be selling museum T-shirts at all of the remaining Canadian stops on their Snakes and Arrows Live concert tour, and donating all of the proceeds from those sales to the museum's $105-million private sector fund-raising campaign.

"My band mates and I are proud to be associated with the creation of a Canadian Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg," Lee said in a written statement.

"Canadians are uniquely positioned to be leaders in championing such causes, and we applaud the efforts of the Asper family in making this museum a reality. We hope that Canadians across the country will join us in lending their support."

Gail Asper, chair of the museum's fund-raising campaign, said the Rush donation is another indication of how the museum has become "closer to the heart" of more and more Canadians.

"This generous donation demonstrates Rush's commitment to advancing the cause for human rights in Canada and around the world," she said. "We are thrilled with this donation and encourage all Rush fans to buy the T-shirts and wear them proudly."

The T-shirts state: "My pals Rush and I support the Canadian Museum for Human Rights."

The $265-million museum, which has the support of all three levels of government and 50 ethno-cultural and human rights groups in Canada, will explore the subject of human rights in order to enhance people's understanding of human rights, promote respect for others and encourage reflection and dialogue.

It will be the first national museum to be built outside the National Capital Region and the first to be created in 41 years.

Acts like these are one of the many reasons I love this band. Thanks to robertkincaid96 for the heads up.

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