San Diego’s musicians are known for lending a helping hand whenever the need arises, with benefit concerts and fundraisers set up to help various service organizations. While all of this charitable help is welcomed, it’s especially poignant when funds are being raised for an organization by a person who herself was helped to get back on her feet. Such is the case with jazz and soul singer Regina Leonard. On Saturday, Dec. 12, Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge will be the site of “Regina’s Christmas Jam Fundraiser,” the first of what organizers hope will become an annual event. Inspired by her friend, Americana singer Sara Petite, who has promoted fundraisers for Becky’s House (the YWCA’s Domestic Violence Program), Leonard decided to try her hand at promoting a benefit concert. Her choice of cause — San Diego’s homeless — was pragmatic. “I wanted to donate to the places that helped me when I was teetering on homelessness about five years ago,” Leonard said. The event benefits El Cajon’s Halcyon Crisis Center and Golden Hill’s Isis Center, both of which Leonard stayed with at one point. “Especially with the economy the way it is, I keep thinking about the people who will end up sitting in a shelter over the holidays with no family, because I was there,” Leonard said. “I remember watching the ball drop (on New Years Eve) and feeling really alone. So I know, no matter how small the contribution, it’s important.” The day’s guests have more than a dozen San Diego Music Award wins and nomninations between them, including Petite and British rock ’n’ roller Dave Humphries, singer-songwriter Cathryn Beeks, bluesman Robin Henkel, troubadour Chuck Schiele and guitarist Charlie Imes. All are donating their services. “I’m really lucky I was able to call on such amazing friends,” Leonard said. “The music community here really comes together when they see a chance to help.” Though Leonard has taken the local club scene by storm in the past few years, she is a relative newcomer to music. “I was raised in a super strict, religious household,” Leonard said. “We weren’t allowed to pursue any kind of extracurricular activities like music.” Her catalyst for writing songs emerged from personal tragedy when, still in her early 20s, her husband passed away. “That tragedy shook me out of my lifestyle,” Leonard said. “From that darkness I rose up with this resolve to do music.” Currently recording her debut album, Leonard will release a six-song E.P. of Christmas favorites to coincide with this show. “Having waited so long to start the recording process, I didn’t want to let 2009 pass without releasing some sort of album,” Leonard said. Tracks were laid down with producer Sven Erik Seaholm, featuring a band that included a four-piece horn section and some of the area’s top blues players, notably bassist Big Slim of The Blue Invaders. Highlights include a storming take on James Brown’s “Soulful Christmas” and “Merry Christmas Baby,” as popularized by Bruce Springsteen. With a late start as a performer, Leonard has tempered her career aspirations — but only a little. “Fortunately I’ve managed to keep a grasp on my naïve enthusiasms to keep me going. I had illusions in the beginning that (success) would be pretty quick,” Leonard said. “There’s a lot of things that I don’t do well, but I put on a good show. “At this point, I’ve come to the realization that the only thing that will keep me going is the love of doing (music),” she added. “I may very well never ‘make it,’ but (music) is something I have to do to feel fulfilled as a human being.” “Regina’s Christmas Jam Fundraiser” takes place from 2 to 6 p.m. Dec. 12 at Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Drive. Tickets are $8. For more information, visit www.myspace.-com/reginaleonard.