Percussion Students to see STOMP!
The Green Dragon Foundation, a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing additional resources for students of the Lewisburg Area School District, received a generous gift that benefits Lewisburg Area School District high school and middle school percussion students.
Brooks Gronlund, Green Dragon Foundation president, announced that the organization recently received a generous gift from Steve Miller and Ellen Gauthier of Lewisburg. Steve and Ellen contacted the Green Dragon Foundation about their wish to underwrite the costs for LASD percussion students to attend STOMP at the Community Arts Center (CAC) in Williamsport.
When asked why they wanted to make this gift, Ellen responded, “When you leave a show with a huge smile on your face, rhythms in your head, and scenes you can’t stop talking about, you have had a wonderful evening. Steve and I were excited to see STOMP on the program for the Community Arts Center (CAC) in Williamsport for the 2010/11 season, as it brought back great memories of seeing the show in New York City.” She continued, “STOMP is an amazing, inspiring show performed by young people who “fill the stage with magnificent rhythms” using “everything but conventional percussion instruments. Here, in our own backyard, is a chance to enjoy a new look at the power of the beat, to discover a beautiful venue, to share the wonder of live performance.”
According to Ellen, she and Steve both grew up with parents who loved music, theatre, dance, and the opera. Steve found all these in his hometown; Ellen lived in an area considered culturally-deprived. When she was in high school, professional performers came several times a year to put on a play, showcase a symphony or dance to fill this deficit. Ellen loved it then and the couple continues to make the arts their primary entertainment.
“Even with the CAC in our backyard, many students don’t know about it and many do not have an opportunity to see a show. We decided to bring them to the arts, to repackage the gift we had been given by inviting percussion students from Lewisburg to attend one of the two STOMP performances. Our hope is that they will be inspired by the creativity and talent of these young people and that the wonder of live performance will stay with them throughout their lives. School budgets only go so far and it is hard to plan for students to attend an event that is scheduled only a few months before the start of school. We didn’t want our students to miss this opportunity.”
While presenting their gift to the Green Dragon Foundation, Ellen and Steve stated “We’d like to encourage others to help provide enriching experiences for Lewisburg students through the Green Dragon Foundation.”
Gronlund stated, “We were delighted that these generous folks offered to enhance our students’ cultural experience since the Green Dragon Foundation is dedicated to providing and directing funding for the realization of educational, cultural and athletic programs and capital improvement projects for the enrichment and enhancement of the students of the LASD.”
Ann Glock, Executive Director of Green Foundation Foundation, receives the donation from Dr. Steve Miller and Ms. Ellen Gauthier