November 15, 2009

Dear Friends of The Play Group Theatre:

What an amazing year we’ve had!   Our 15th year included 5 mainstage shows with over 140 young actors and over 300 students participating in our increasingly diverse performing arts programs. We graduated another wonderful class of seniors, launched our new PGT Kids program and shattered all previous attendance records for our summer camp programs. On top of all that excitement WE FOUND A NEW HOME!!  Yes, after years of moving from place to place, we finally have a studio of our very own at One North Broadway in White Plains.  This glorious facility includes two wonderful theatres, classrooms, scene shop, offices and more. Many of you have generously contributed to the Capital Campaign that has allowed us to build “NoBro,” our new home, and we give heartfelt thanks for your generosity.  At a time when so many arts organizations are struggling and dwindling, we are very grateful to be a part of a growing and thriving theatre community.

Each year at this time, we ask each of you to support the work of The Play Group Theatre through our Annual Fund Campaign. And, despite our extensive and ongoing Capital Campaign, this year is no different. In January, we will begin offering programming in our new, beautiful facility – but we need your help in order to do so. As we have in the past, we are working together to raise the funds that are necessary to provide scholarships, support our ongoing programming, and develop new and exciting programs to fill our new home.  The PGT Annual Fund Campaign begins today and will run through the end of the year.

We are incredibly fortunate this year – for the third year in a row, the Hilda Mullen Foundation has agreed to match every contribution made between November 15 and December 31, up to $50,000!  In other words, each dollar you contribute before the end of the year will be doubled.  We have set the goal of raising $50,000 by December 31, so that PGT will have $100,000 to carry on its wonderful work.

Also, we are thrilled to be hosting our 15th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, January 2nd.  Please join us for a fun filled evening combining a performance by current and former PGT Students, a dazzling Silent Auction and the Ribbon Cutting at our new home at One North Broadway.  You won't want to miss this one.  It's a night that promises to be fun for your whole family.  Join us as we celebrate NoBro, celebrate our 15th Anniversary, and celebrate the special magic created by Jill & Steven Abusch.

Enclosed you will find a form both for making a donation and for reserving tickets for the Gala.  Please give as generously as possible.  We need your help to reach our goal and receive this extraordinary matching grant.  Your contribution will help PGT continue to enrich the lives of so many children. Sustaining the PGT magic is up to each and every one of us. 

Best,

Barbara Whitman
Chair, Board of Directors