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"We thrive as a result of your benevolence."

Dear Friend,

All of us at Barrington Youth Dance Ensemble would like to express our warmest thanks for standing behind our Company in 2008. Attending performances, fundraising events, project underwriting, and responding to appeal letters all provide the much needed patronage which sustains us. We thrive as a result of your benevolence on a year to year basis.

Once again, we were blessed to be able to present our yearly Gala at the Sanfilippo home. This family has, for several years, championed the programs that BYDE provides for our area. Not surprisingly, in these uncertain economic times, attendance at our event was a good deal lower than we hoped. Still and all, the evening was one of our most magical. We were amazed at the outpouring of the donations to our various scholarships. The excitement our attendees exhibited providing funds for our costume needs was inspiring. Many people who could not attend our Gala provided donations to help bolster our event. Our local businesses were generous with their donations as well.

While our scholarship and costume needs were met, we still need to fulfill our community outreach programming and master class requirements, usually Gala supported, which was $20,000 under our goal.

For the past fifteen years, we have been the proud recipients of yearly grants from the Illinois Arts Council. For the last two years, all State funding to arts organizations was slashed. This has produced a deficit. We must, through other means, raise an additional $6,000 in order to ensure our future.

Barrington Youth Dance Ensemble hopes to continue to compliment our community's wealth of opportunities. We provide free and discounted theater tickets for those whose lives will be enriched by experiencing full production ballet. Community outreach for area schools and senior facilities brings the joy of human exchange to performers and audience alike. Over 1,000 area dancers have had the unique and life changing experience of performing in ballets side by side professional guest artists. Over 60,000 audience members have seen our productions.

Each year is a new beginning for BYDE. Our reality is this...we exist only on a year to year basis. If you are considering making a 2008 tax deductible donation, we hope we can count on your partnership as we dance into 2009. We need adequate funding to continue our mission. Your donation brings with it great opportunity and joy.

Gratefully yours,

Mary Brennan

Artistic Director
Barrington Youth Dance Ensemble

CLICK HERE for the pdf version of this letter.