MONTREAL - She's a world-class singer, but Lorraine Klaasen never forgets her roots.

Daughter of legendary South African jazz singer Tandie Klaasen, she performs in the distinctive style of Township music, recognized worldwide as stemming from her homeland in South Africa.

But she also honours her roots in Montreal, her home for more than 30 years, and where she built her career.

Klaasen hasn't forgotten when she needed a hand getting her career started, and found shoulders to lean on at YES Montreal.

Youth Employment Services has long helped Montrealers by offering English-language support services to help Quebecers find work and start their own businesses.

After receiving help from them, now Klaasen is one of the many mentors who lend their expertise to YES.

"When I speak to some people, young artists, I will refer them to YES Montreal," said Klaasen.

Those artists include her protégé, Noam Freud. Now 17, Klaasen has mentored the teenager since he was three.

"I really appreciate Lorraine just taking an interest in me and what I do and giving me sort of a chance to improve myself," he said.

The young man has learned to play various instruments and filled in at Klaasen's concerts, including major performances.

"I'm really happy to see that he understood when I talk about the respect that you have to have for your art and the perseverance and endurance that comes with it," she said.

While Klaasen made a name for herself in Canada and around the world, the big ticket in her life now is an annual YES fundraiser, where she calls on musicians and local personalities to lend their talents to the gala.

The fifth annual Tune in to YES Benefit Concert and Silent Auction took place in October at Olympia Theatre. The event saw a record turnout of over 4,000 attendees and raised over $85,000.

"I am passionate about this event, because we (artists) are always frustrated. Where are you going to go to speak to mentors, to speak to people, who can tell you how to go about show business?" she said.

Now with a successful career, Klaasen said her fundraiser is a thank you to the organization that has done so much for her and fellow artists.

"We helped Lorraine a little bit with her project -- the business side of her art, and she said she wanted to give back," said Iris Unger, YES Montreal's executive director.

Klaasen's noble effort and willingness to help others serves as an inspiration to musician Susan Kouri, who was once helped by YES, and now volunteers at the non-profit organization.

"Even if nobody's ever heard of them, she wants the rest of the world to hear about these people and she wants to share the stage with them," she said. "I mean who's ever heard of a musician that wants all these people to share the stage with them?"