Post by lisas84 on Apr 21, 2010 11:53:45 GMT -5
Congrats to Center Players! Good work!
From News Transcript:
Center Players raise $5,000 for charity
Bernice Garfield-Szita, president of Center Players, Freehold’s resident theater company, recently presented Kathee Callan, fund administrator for the Claudia Lives On Memorial Fund, with a check for $5,157 to be used for housing scholarships for homeless and displaced women in transitional living programs throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties.
The donation took place at Applewood Estates in Freehold Township, site of two of the three performances of Center Players’ recent production of “The vagina Monologues.”
According to a press release, Center Players raised the money during a successful and highly praised run of “The vagina Monologues” that was produced in conjunction with the V-Day movement, a nonprofit organization which supports anti-violence organizations throughout the world while drawing attention to the larger fight to stop worldwide violence against women and girls.
The V-Day movement, founded by Eve Ensler, author of “The vagina Monologues,” has raised more than $70 million in the last 10 years. To participate in 2010, only three performances were permitted. Ten percent of net profits from the production go to V-Day Spotlight on Women of Democratic Republic of Congo and the rest may be donated to an approved charity.
Center Players chose to donate the remaining production profits to the Claudia Lives On Memorial Fund, because they were impressed by the important work of this local charity, according to the local charity.
“The mission of Center Players is to bring enrichment through the performing arts to the diverse community it serves,” Garfield-Szita said. “In other words, we strive to provide theater with heart in the heart of the community. This production has been such a success that we are considering offering similar fundraisers annually.”
The theater company initially planned to perform the play at its own facility, Center Playhouse, a 49-seat theater in the heart of Freehold Borough off Main Street. But when the play sold out before casting began, Center Players realized they had a winner and began searching for a larger facility in order to raise more money for their chosen charity and reach more people, according to the press release.
Judy Spiegel of Marlboro, director of the production, said, “We were trying to figure out what to do when Diane Distefano, the activities director at Applewood Estates, volunteered their magnificent Performing Arts Center.”
Applewood Estates, New Jersey’s first hospital-sponsored life care retirement community, is part of the CentraState Healthcare System. Its facility was available for the Friday and Saturday evening performances and enabled Center Players to add an additional 150 seats each night and to give the residents of Applewood Estates a chance to see the play as well.
The 17 cast members interacted with audience members after the show and were pleased to hear comments from Applewood Estates residents such as: “It’s your fault that I have a stitch in my side from laughing so hard!” “The show made me laugh and cry.” “Thank you for bringing this production to Applewood Estates.”
According to the press release, Center Players plans to bring future productions to Applewood Estates since there is such a love of theater among the residents.
From News Transcript:
Center Players raise $5,000 for charity
Bernice Garfield-Szita, president of Center Players, Freehold’s resident theater company, recently presented Kathee Callan, fund administrator for the Claudia Lives On Memorial Fund, with a check for $5,157 to be used for housing scholarships for homeless and displaced women in transitional living programs throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties.
The donation took place at Applewood Estates in Freehold Township, site of two of the three performances of Center Players’ recent production of “The vagina Monologues.”
According to a press release, Center Players raised the money during a successful and highly praised run of “The vagina Monologues” that was produced in conjunction with the V-Day movement, a nonprofit organization which supports anti-violence organizations throughout the world while drawing attention to the larger fight to stop worldwide violence against women and girls.
The V-Day movement, founded by Eve Ensler, author of “The vagina Monologues,” has raised more than $70 million in the last 10 years. To participate in 2010, only three performances were permitted. Ten percent of net profits from the production go to V-Day Spotlight on Women of Democratic Republic of Congo and the rest may be donated to an approved charity.
Center Players chose to donate the remaining production profits to the Claudia Lives On Memorial Fund, because they were impressed by the important work of this local charity, according to the local charity.
“The mission of Center Players is to bring enrichment through the performing arts to the diverse community it serves,” Garfield-Szita said. “In other words, we strive to provide theater with heart in the heart of the community. This production has been such a success that we are considering offering similar fundraisers annually.”
The theater company initially planned to perform the play at its own facility, Center Playhouse, a 49-seat theater in the heart of Freehold Borough off Main Street. But when the play sold out before casting began, Center Players realized they had a winner and began searching for a larger facility in order to raise more money for their chosen charity and reach more people, according to the press release.
Judy Spiegel of Marlboro, director of the production, said, “We were trying to figure out what to do when Diane Distefano, the activities director at Applewood Estates, volunteered their magnificent Performing Arts Center.”
Applewood Estates, New Jersey’s first hospital-sponsored life care retirement community, is part of the CentraState Healthcare System. Its facility was available for the Friday and Saturday evening performances and enabled Center Players to add an additional 150 seats each night and to give the residents of Applewood Estates a chance to see the play as well.
The 17 cast members interacted with audience members after the show and were pleased to hear comments from Applewood Estates residents such as: “It’s your fault that I have a stitch in my side from laughing so hard!” “The show made me laugh and cry.” “Thank you for bringing this production to Applewood Estates.”
According to the press release, Center Players plans to bring future productions to Applewood Estates since there is such a love of theater among the residents.