Sheryl Crow fan club raises more than $10,000 for Delta Children's Home

KENNETT, Mo. -- A Sheryl Crow fan club has raised $10,390 for Delta Children's Home during its annual fundraising event celebrating Crow's birthday.

The birthday drive began in 2001. Since then, the fundraiser has given more than $100,000 to Delta Children's Home, according to fan club moderator Gregg Dempsey.

"This year's amount came as a surprise to the fan club leaders, because of the economic situations of the fans, but everyone still chipped in to help raise a large sum of money," Dempsey said.

The fundraiser begins around the first of January and comes to an end on Crow's birthday, Feb. 11.

Anne Moyer, auction chairwoman of Delta Children's Home, noted that the amount raised by the event accounts for 8 to 10 percent of the organization's yearly budget.

"We rely heavily on the community to get our funds," Moyer said.

The funds go toward the care of children, who come into the agency and may stay anywhere from one night to six months, according to Moyer.

The donations come from all over the world, according to birthday drive coordinator Jim Baker.

Each year, Crow signs a guitar provided by a fan for the event. Baker said this year's winner of the Fender guitar was Ellen Vitolo of Shelton, Conn.