About $275,000 donated to Chapman organization

[May 30, 2008]  NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- About $275,000 has been donated to a nonprofit organization since the May 21 death of the 5-year-old daughter of contemporary Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman.

Chapman had asked that instead of flowers, contributions in memory of Maria Sue Chapman be sent to Shaohannah's Hope. The family previously founded the nonprofit organization to provide adoption assistance, awareness and orphan care. The Chapmans adopted three children from China, including Maria.

She died after being accidentally hit by a sport utility vehicle in the driveway of the family's Williamson County home. She was the youngest of the Chapmans' six kids.

According to The Tennessean newspaper, the Chapman family will work with the group's board of directors to decide how to spend the money.

[Associated Press; By BOB THOMAS]

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