"Teen Match" Challenge...Met!

The following is a direct quote from Managing Director Caitlin Frances, as sent to the SSR Board of Directors:

We met and exceeded the “Teen Match”! WHEEHAAA!!!

Thank you to all who've donated during this particular stretch of our fundraising drive.

We are oh-so-close to our December 31st fundraising goal. But we're not there yet! We know you're probably busy over the next day or two...but during those next few days of finally slowing down a bit, please consider an extra donation to get us over the top. (And don't forget, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit, so your donations are tax-deductible -- this week is your last chance to declare a little more off your 2010 tax return!)

Also this week: We still have two final performances of "A Christmas Cabaret" on Saturday night at 7:00 pm and Sunday afternoon at 2 pm. It's great fun for the whole family! Click here for tickets.

Community Members Pledge $$$ Challenge

As previously blogged, SSR students produced a "Teen Cabaret" last weekend, as a way of doing their part to keep SecondStory Rep alive. They raised a ton of money; and now, longtime subscribers Dirk and Shanie Holman want to build on that effort. Here is Shanie's challenge:

"I was very impressed by the dedication of the Teens in putting on their Cabaret Sunday. They clearly demonstrated the power of even small (monetary) contributions, to raise a total of more than $2300. So I'm throwing down a challenge, to make their hard work go even farther:  If, by December 23, SSR can collect at least $2400 in *new* contributions, designated "Teen Match," my husband and I will match those contributions with $200/mo for 2010 (in addition to whatever contribution we might already be making). Our contribution, in turn, will be matched by Microsoft. Check out the power of multiplication! Feel free to spread this challenge far and wide."

We are overwhelmed by the generosity of this offer -- from two people who have already donated money, time and effort to our fundraising campaign. Thank you so much, Dirk and Shanie!

And now their challenge goes out to you. Call or send in your tax-deductible donation today, marked "Teen Match", and tell everyone you know who might like to help. Email your friends, put it on your Facebook or MySpace page, send out a Tweet...If those teens could raise that amount in one day, then all the rest of us should definitely be able to do the same in one week!

Teen Cabaret Raises Big Bucks Toward Goal

On Sunday December 13, a dedicated group of teenagers banded together to put on a fundraising show for SecondStory. This sort of thing used to be called a "rent party"! All of the kids have taken theater classes and/or performed in our Teen Musicals of the last few years (the group pictured above is from last summer's "Godspell"). They have fond memories of the shows they've done here, and want to make sure they can do more in the future.

Well, the event was a smash success, filling the house and raising over $2,300 toward keeping the SSR doors open. WOW, way to go, teens! Thank you for all your hard work and spirit!