Mark Kozelek is among a long list of people that have contributed to a compilation album for a charity called 826 National. The charity is aimed at helping disadvantaged young people improve their writing skills and explore their creativity. The album is released on December 9th.

“I know I barely know you, we’ve barely said hello” – Mark Kozelek

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“I Know” – performed by Mark Kozelek – is the second single to be released off the forthcoming You Be My Heart compilation due out Dec. 9th and featuring a who’s who in the indie rock scene with artists such as Bowerbirds, Maps & Atlases, Horse Feathers, Marissa Nadler and Fruit Bats all participating to support the nonprofit’s aim.

You Be My Heart – Release Date: December 9, 2013

1. “You Be My Heart” – Becky Stark

2. “Prove Myself” – Horse Feathers

3. “Seven Wonders” – Bowerbirds

4. “Christen My Ship” – Fruit Bats

5. “Half as Much” – Marissa Nadler

6. “Made-up Lines” – Ghost & Gale

7. “While It All Away” – Danielle Ate the Sandwich

8. “Melt this Heart of Mine” – Marble Sounds

9. “Somewhere Feet Have Never Tread” -Letting Up Despite Great Faults

10. “Mrs. Marquis de Sade” – The Cloud Room

11. “Excuse Me” – The Spinto Band

12. “She’s like a Hologram” – Maps & Atlases

13. “I Know” – Mark Kozelek

14. “The Reconciliation Song” – The Finches

15. “More than Just One Lifetime” – Key Losers

16. “Consider My Chariot” – Field Report

17. “You Gave Me a Reason” – Saturday Looks Good to Me

The You Be My Heart Compilation is an extended love affair with the nonprofit, 826 National, which is dedicated to offering “a variety of inventive programs that provide under-resourced students, ages 6-18, with opportunities to explore their creativity and improve their writing skills.” San Francisco filmmaker and songwriter, Devon Reed, who volunteers with 826 National initiated, financed and wrote all the songs which were presented to the bands to select the ones that called to them and in turn give their own unique twist. The result is a compilation featuring a who’s who in the indie rock scene with artists such asBowerbirds, Cloud Room, Maps and Atlases, Horse Feathers and Mark Kozelek all participating to support the nonprofit’s aim.

Devon Reed first became involved as a volunteer and organizer for 826 Valencia in San Francisco in 2011. He had worked with several nonprofits in the area, including Habitat for Humanity, GRID Alternatives and Food not Bombs, when he finally discovered 826 and quickly considered it home. He says, “The organization, with its focus on children and writing, was a perfect fit with my own interests and from my first experiences there, I could tell that my time and energy was very much needed.” In 2012, after volunteering there for a year, he was asked to serve as a volunteer coordinator for their Sunday tutoring program.

Reed produced his first album six years ago, a soundtrack to his feature length film musical The Bigtop, which included performances of songs written by him by such artists as Matthew Sweet, Doug Martsch (Built to Spill), The Clientele, Lisa Germano and Damien Jurado.

He continued to write songs since The Bigtop, when he received the spark of inspiration to combine these two interests – the musical and the philanthropic – into a single venture, and organize a benefit album for 826 Valencia, to both increase awareness and generate funds for the organization.

“I am really happy to have the opportunity to give a little extra to a place very dear to me, and I was pleasantly surprised by the reactions of several artists who I  contacted who seemed to feel the same way.”