Arts Nonprofit Briefs

PCPA offers dinner on ‘Hunchback’ stage

Theater patrons are invited to support PCPA by dining on stage in the set of its current production, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” at Marian Theatre in Santa Maria from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 10.

The fundraiser for PCPA’s scholarship program celebrates the 50^th anniversary of the Marian Theatre’s construction. Entertainment will be provided by PCPA alumnus Vincent Rodriguez III, who stars as Josh Chan in the CW Network’s Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning musical comedy “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.”

After graduating from PCPA in 2003, Rodriguez danced in the ensemble of the national tour of “42nd Street,” working his way up to a principal understudy role. When the tour ended he moved to New York City, and soon he was cast in musicals at regional theaters all over the U.S. and in Broadway national tours.

For more information, call Tammy Paster at 805-928-7731, ext. 4109, or visit www.pcpa.org/dinneronstage2018/ to purchase tickets.

 

 

Fossemalle dancers accepted for summer program

Taylor Kemp,16, and Camryn Kemp,13, who are students at the Fossemalle Dance Studio in Santa Ynez, have been accepted for a summer intensive program at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. 

After an audition, they were accepted into the two-week program that includes instruction in ballet, technique, pointe, modern and jazz dance.

Taylor began dancing at Fossemalle when she was 5 years old, and Camryn began at 3.

“The audition was awesome,” Taylor said. “I must say that upon first arriving, the large university campus was a little intimidating, but as we began our warm-up, we immediately felt right at home. The live pianist that accompanied us was a treat and something we are not accustomed to. It was a unique experience, one we will never forget.”

The two girls had to wait about three weeks before they received the email letting them know that they had both been accepted.

“It was hard to wait, because we both really wanted to get in, but it was so exciting to finally see that ‘congratulations’ letter,” Camryn said.

 

 

Solvang students perform at guitar festival

Seven guitar students from Song In My Heart Studio in Solvang performed at Loyola Marymount University’s annual Young Artist Showcase guitar festival in March. 

Ensemble members Brett Adams, Hazel Colgate, Josiah Frias, Cameron and Carson Knight, Joshua McCollum and Sherwin Raoufi performed at the festival along with students from schools and studios as far away as Las Vegas.

“I am gratified to see our students identifying with high-achieving artists and performing with beauty and grace in world-class settings,” said Vahid Imani, director of guitar studies at Song In My Heart Studio, who credited “the hard work and dedication of the students and their parents.”

In addition to their performance, they attended concerts and received coaching from Martha Masters, an internationally renowned guitar artist. 

 

Anderson named to Barrett Foundation board

Retired executive Allen F. Anderson of Solvang has joined the board of directors of the Rona Barrett Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing affordable housing and wellness services for the elderly poor.

Anderson spent years in high-profile positions with leading business firms, including Experian, an international credit and financial services corporation.

Anderson retired as the company’s president of North American Consumer Services’ Affinity business, which provided consumer credit and information protection services to large corporations. During his career with the firm, Anderson also served as president of business information services and global general auditor.

“Our nonprofit is fortunate to have someone join our board with such a respected international business background and a wide range of leadership experience,” said founder and CEO Rona Barrett.

Before starting his business career, Anderson served in the Air Force as a captain in the Strategic Air Command.

“I’ve always believed in giving back to the community,” he said, “and the Rona Barrett Foundation has an admirable track record as an advocate for seniors in need. The foundation’s tireless efforts to develop and build the Golden Inn & Village, the affordable independent living campus for low-income seniors, is a true testament to its mission. I wanted to be an active part in the foundation’s ongoing work.”

The Rona Barrett Foundation’s second-phase undertaking will be Harry’s House at the Golden Inn & Village, a planned, affordable housing solution for seniors needing daycare, light assisted living and memory care services.

The organization plans to launch the initiative later this year. Phase I, the independent living facility, has been open to residents for more than a year.

Allen and his wife, Jane, live in Solvang, where he is also a member of the Vikings of Solvang.

 

Cottage makes grants focused on behavioral health

Cottage Health has announced “community partnership” grants to Santa Ynez Valley People Helping People and several other local organizations for services that focus on behavioral health, a category that includes support for mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment programs.

The grants will be used for initiatives and collaborations to improve access to behavioral health care and reduce barriers for people who want to use those services.

The goal of the grant program is to generate a collective impact, building on the services being provided by individual organizations by facilitating shared knowledge, collaborations and alignment of efforts.

Cottage Health has been making grants to community-based organizations for more than 20 years, totaling more than $10 million in funding.

 Program officials identified behavioral health as a top priority after analyzing the information collected in Cottage Health’s 2016 Community Health Needs Assessment and a series of “listening tours” last year.

This year’s grant recipients and their targeted programs are:

• Santa Ynez Valley People Helping People – Santa Ynez Valley Aging Adult Behavioral Wellness Program
• Center for Successful Aging – CareLine Telephone Reassurance Program
• Child Abuse Listening Mediation – Santa Barbara Resiliency Project
• Doctors Without Walls/Santa Barbara Street Medicine – Behavioral Health Services for Unsheltered Populations
• Family Service Agency – School-Based Mental Health
• Mental Wellness Center – Youth Mental Wellness Coalition
• Pacific Pride Foundation – Counseling for LGBTQ/HIV Communities
• Santa Barbara Alliance for Community Transformation – Westside Health Collaborative
• Santa Barbara County Education Office – Welcome Every Baby

 The grant program supports new partnerships and growth of existing programs in new settings, such as schools and primary care provider clinics. Cottage Health offers continuing workshops for grantees to provide evaluation support and technical assistance, opportunities for peer learning and an environment to foster collaboration to identify and meet under-served needs.

 For more information, visit cottagehealth.org/population-health.