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Spring Fundraisers Support Behind the Scenes
A trio of fabulous fundraising efforts on behalf of Behind the Scenes culminated in March with over $11,000 raised. From industry veterans to high school students, people are turning their passion for the industry into action and caring for their current and future colleagues.
Richard Wolpert’s brainchild was ‘Pedaling to Benefit Behind the Scenes’, a 754-mile, 12-day bicycle trip from Springfield, MO to Houston, TX in time for the USITT Conference. Riding at an average speed of 12 mph and covering as much as 78 miles in a day, Richard, “got a chance to see an America that lies hidden behind highway signs, Interstate highways and suburban sprawl. The America many of us feel in our bones but have lost in the rush of day-to-day demands.” Richard was joined for the first 72 miles by Rob Schraft and for the last 274 miles by Jeni Lyn Anderson.
On March 15th, the Mount Vernon High School Chapter of USITT held its second annual ‘Short Reach Short Riders Tricycle Ride for Behind the Scenes’. A cold and wet morning greeted the 38 high school riders as they competed in relays, sprints, and the ‘Enduro’. Winners of this year’s races were: Relay—Team Sapsis, Sprint—Elliot Kress, and Enduro—Peter Jackson. Dana Taylor, the school’s USITT sponsor, commented on why the students are committed to fundraising for those Behind the Scenes is helping: “These are not strangers, these people are us in a few years, they will be our colleagues, our friends.”
At the USITT Conference, Michelle Kokal, this year’s Philanthropy Chair for the Penn State Student Chapter of USITT, accompanied by chapter members, presented a check to Behind the Scenes that was the culmination of two years of fundraising efforts. The group came up with a host of fun and imaginative fundraising activities including ‘charging’ to use the restrooms during performances of ‘Urinetown’, magazine sales, gift baskets, and working the counter at Cold Stone Creamery. Michelle praised the members of the chapter saying: “Despite the fact that each fundraising event was a new experience for just about every member of our organization, I am happy to say that everyone remained supportive and dedicated to this cause. I am extremely proud of your willingness to volunteer your time and hard work.”
The ESTA Foundation's Behind the Scenes program provides entertainment technology industry members with grants for emergency situations, such as serious illness, injury or death. For more information about Behind the Scenes, to donate, or to apply for a grant, visit www.estafoundation.org/bts.htm.
In picture: Robin Schraft (left) kept Richard Wolpert of Union Connector company on the first day of Richard's 754 mile bicycle ride from Springfield, MO to Houston, TX; the Mount Vernon High School USITT Chapter gathered for their second annual Short Reach Short Riders tricycle ride; members of the Penn State Chapter of USITT worked the counter at Cold Stone Creamery to raise funds.
3rd April 2008
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