London, Dec 3: Amy Winehouse's father says meeting the first children to be helped by the foundation set up in his late daughters name has been both “heartbreaking” and “heartwarming.”
The Amy Winehouse Foundation was officially launched 10 weeks ago to support vulnerable youth, and has pledged to donate 500,000 pounds ($780,000) in its first year.
“Well it was tough, it's very very difficult, but what we wanted to do, we want to go and visit people because people loved Amy, children loved Amy, you know we take little CDs down and gifts for them, “ Mitch told the Associated Press in an interview Friday.
“I think that because I'm Amy's dad, and there's Jane my wife, Amy's step mother and Janis, her mum. Just to have Janis standing next to a kid or a helper means a lot to them, it means the world to us, “ he added.
Finding charities to donate to hasn't been an easy task for the foundation. As Mitch explains it has not as easy as it looks: “It has to be charities that fit our mission statement which is children and young adults, or youths struggling with addiction, ill health, terminally ill kids, disabled children, homeless youths, but then you have to do diligence on those charities, make sure that they are bonafide and they haven't got too much money,” says Mitch.
“It's not quite as simple as it sounds. It's quite hard work actually,” he notes.
The singer's parents, Mitch and Janice Winehouse, visited Little Havens Children's Hospice in Thundersley, east of London, on Wednesday to meet children benefiting from a 10,000-pound ($15,600) donation.
Mitch Winehouse wiped away tears as he described meeting 6-year old Callum Miller and his family yesterday, who will benefit from the grant.
“It was heartbreaking actually . . . I'm starting to well up now, but heartwarming at the same time,” of his experience.
Since Amy's passing, Mitch has been making regular press appearances promoting the foundation and he says it's not only helping families in need, but it's helping him and the rest of Amy's family with the grieving process too.
“It's very important because of course we forget the struggles that families are going through, thousands of families are struggling with members of their family who are addicted, suffering with addiction we must not forget families, we're trying to help families. It's tough, it really is tough. We're also doing this for ourselves this is part of our recovery too.”
A British coroner ruled the singer, known for her beehive hairdo and hits like “Rehab,” died of alcohol poisoning.
