From now until Jan. 22, tickets – and first choice of seating – will be granted to islanders choosing to become patrons of Orcas Has Talent, the new version of the popular and always sold out Orcas Idol show. The event is the only major fundraiser for the Orcas Island Prevention Partnership (OIPP), a community coalition comprised of individuals, community groups and business organizations dedicated to keeping the Orcas island community safe and healthy.
“Your support is essential, and any donation amount is truly appreciated,” said OIPP director Marta Nielsen
All proceeds from the show go to support local prevention programs. OIPP’s community initiative this year is to “Draw the Line” between youth and alcohol, drugs and tobacco, a campaign geared toward helping parents and adults become better educated and take action about issues that concern them.
Programs this year include community forums; Active Parenting classes; alcohol, drug and tobacco education materials used in the schools; community and teen resource cards; the Point Blank award winning high school prevention club; Natural Helpers, a middle grades peer helping group; and “On Applebee Pond,” a preschool through first grade prevention program that trains middle school and high school youth to teach age appropriate character education using puppet theatre.
Those wanting to support OIPP and the Orcas Has Talent show may choose one of three levels of support, as follows:
Level one: “Seat Patron”: $50 for adults and $35 for children (12 and under). Seat Patrons are guaranteed front of the line service and early seat selection. Half of each ticket price may be considered a tax-deductible contribution.
To become a Seat Patron, visit www.orcasprevention.org to print off a mail-in order form, call 376-4768, or email mnielson@orcas.k12.wa.us to receive a form by email. Seat Patron ticket sales close Jan. 22; regular tickets go on sale Jan. 24 at Darvill’s Bookstore.
Level two: “Production Patron”: $50 or more.
“Help us cover the cost of the production and we will thank you publicly with your name or company name listed in the program,” said Nielson. “Each dollar we don’t have to spend on production costs (about $2,500 per show) allows us to put more funding into essential prevention programs for youth and adults here on Orcas Island.”
Level three: “Prevention Patron”: $500 or more.
“A contribution of $500 or more will help us continue to support the critical work of the coalition in bringing information, expertise, intervention and community mobilization to issues and concerns of underage drinking and tobacco use, drug use and the “risky behaviors” that people can undertake when influenced by them. If we receive your contribution prior to performance – you can ‘see your name in the stars’!” Large blue and gold cutout stars with contributors’ names will adorn the lobby to publicly thank Prevention Patrons.
For more information about the OIPP, or to download a donation/ticket form, visit www.orcasprevention.org. Donations can be mailed to Orcas Island Prevention Partnership, PO Box 475, Eastsound, 98245.
