100 Mile Festival of the Arts members reached a milestone at the end of September when they raised $20,000 toward the purchase of a concert grand piano for use in musical performances and the annual Festival of the Arts in Martin Exeter Hall.
After renting a piano from Kamloops for the annual Festival of the Arts, which is held for two weeks every April, the Festival of the Arts committee launched its project, called Key It Up!, early in 2015.
The piano they had used for years was nearing the end of its life and it was difficult, if not impossible, to tune properly, so performers would get the good, quality sound they needed in concerts and during the Festival of the Arts adjudications.
So, the committee started the Key It Up! fundraising project, which is separate from the budget they have for the two-week adjudicated Festival of the Arts and the closing Showcase Concert of music by speech students selected to perform by the adjudicators.
The local Royal Bank of Canada gave the Key It Up! campaign an early boost with a sizable donation of $1,000 at the final festival Showcase Concert in April.
Since April, the fund has grown steadily with three large grants, and many supporters purchasing a "virtual key" for $300.
Festival of the Arts committee president Bruce Madu says they were definitely encouraged by the generosity of individuals and businesses in the community.
The committee's most recent fundraising initiative was a cash draw. Three winning tickets were drawn at the South Cariboo Farmers’ Market on Sept. 25.
Local resident Doug Harris took home the $2,500 first-place prize, while Diana Bergeson from Quesnel won $1,000 for second and local resident Lynn Robinson was handed the third-place prize of $500.
The small Key It Up! committee has tirelessly sold tickets, hotdogs, T-shirts and has applied for several grants.
Fund raising will continue until the goal of $30,000 is reached.
For more information or to purchase a virtual key, call Madu at 250-395-7700.
