Thanks for your interest in theatre education, and for support of The Theatre Lab. We hope you will help a child have a fun, creative summer this year by contributing to our Send a Kid to Theatre Camp Campaign. This year our goal is to raise $65,000 in scholarships to send at least 75 kids, ages 6 -13, to our award-winning summer theatre camps. With your support, we can meet our goal, and send kids like N.K. to camp:

 

N.K., age 13, needed a scholarship last summer because one of his parents is on disability and the family's income is significantly diminished. A returning camper (and one of our oldest), he was thrilled to play a role he developed himself. His teacher noted: "Not only have N.'s acting skills reached new heights, but so has his confidence in his abilities and in all that he has to offer as a member of a team. He is a conscientious, dedicated, hard-working young man, and it has been a pleasure to have had him in our program over the years."

 

In 2011, with the support of generous donors like you, we were able to help over 70 needy families offer their children a fun, safe, and challenging summer experience-and a chance to shine.

 

We are already being flooded with requests for financial aid for this year's summer camps, many from families who were used to being able to provide for their children but who, in this brutal economy, simply couldn't do it alone. To ensure we can continue to give such generous, and necessary, scholarships to our upcoming summer campers, we encourage you to contribute to our 2012 Send a Kid to Theatre Camp Campaign.

 

Make a difference!

 

Your donation goes straight to a child. Just $820 provides a full camp scholarship to a needy child. More than one-third of young people participating in our ongoing programs receive full or substantial financial assistance each year-with help from people like you.Make a contribution with the enclosed card, or donate online at www.theatrelab.org.

 

Double your gift!

 

The Theatre Lab's Board of Directors has thrown down a huge and generous challenge-a $20,000 challenge grant - matching dollar for dollar all donations received by June 15, 2012. So, donate right now, and you double your donation.

 

While many summer programs discourage multiple scholarship requests, The Theatre Lab encourages needy parents to apply for multiple summers, and for siblings to attend together. With our mission "to transform lives through theatre education" we enjoy seeing a child's talent and confidence grow each year. We also know that the power of the arts, and a little patience, can open up a shy child or guide a young person to their natural role as a leader.

 

If you gave to last year's Campaign, here is just one child you impacted:

 

J.P., age 8, returned for her third year at camp last summer. According to her teacher: "I cannot begin to describe how much J. has grown in the program. We first met J. as a Bravo [our youngest group of campers] in 2009 and she was reluctant to do anything theater-related, frequently shedding tears to express her uneasiness, but this year Jenna was a true leader. She willingly participated in games and activities, learned her lines for the final performance, and most remarkably was a mentor of sorts to any of the younger Bravos who were struggling like she used to struggle."

 

Please consider making a donation of $100, $250-or send one kid to camp for $820. No contribution is too small, and all donations are much appreciated. If you've already donated, thank you so much. And all gifts received by June 15 will be doubled by our Board of Directors' matching grant. So please, donate today.

 

Thanks so much for giving the life-changing power of theatre to a child in DC this summer. It's a gift that will last a lifetime.