In our last "Update" (click to view it here), we shared results of our students' self-evaluations of their work in our Summer Musical Theatre Workshop. After the completion of the workshop, we also gave an evaluation form to the parents of all students who participated in the Workshop.  Eighty-nine percent of parents or guardians responded and we thought you might be interested in learning what they had to say.    

The Questions (Part I)   

The first four questions were devised to check our performance as it relates to our educational ideals:   

For these first four questions, we asked parents to rate us on a scale of 1 to 5. The choices for each of these four questions was: 1 (did not achieve), 2 (below expectations), 3 (achieved), 4 (exceeded expectations), and 5 (excelled).

Here are their ratings:   

1. My child's performance technique improved.  Average = 4.75    

2. My child's self-esteem improved through participation in this workshop.Average rating = 4.75

3. My child worked on new things or things outside the artistic areas he or she usually works in.
    Average rating = 5.0

4. My child's social skills improved. He or she benefited from interacting with others (students,
    instructors, and volunteers) who may have different backgrounds or perspectives. 
    Average rating = 4.6

Well, in part, we make it all happen through people like you who give generously to support our work. And giving isn't just financial, it also come from our volunteers who help do extra "shepherding" in our classes, at breaks, and backstage, making sure our children are safe and where they are supposed to be at all times; who provide fresh and healthy snacks for each student every day (and set it all up and help clean up afterwards); and who donate costumes and other materials to enrich our classroom and performance experiences in exciting ways.

As for financial contributions, here's a quick update on our two-part Fall matching gift challenge:

Phase II has started well but we need a kick to make our Nov. 20 deadline. Remember, that the bar was raised a little higher for Phase II -- we must raise $1,000 in order to get any of the additional $1,000 match (meaning, if we only raise $999, we don't receive a match).  

I know we're up to the challenge, though. We just need $800 more in the next two weeks. That's not a large amount. In fact, if everyone on our mailing list contributed just $10 today, we'd be far over our target.  

So that's what I'm going to ask you to do right now...please click the "donate" button and make a contribution by credit card or PayPal and let's make it happen together. Every contribution counts - even just $10!

Donations from people like you augment the amount of money that The Earl Wentz and William Watkins Foundation is able to give towards arts programs each year.   And with next year just on the horizon, we want to do even more! 

Please remember to check with your company's human resources department to see if they will match your gift towards our work.

Thanks to you . . . we work together as a community to make it happen!   

Music publisher and producer Sixpence, Inc., has stepped up to the plate again to help The Earl Wentz and William Watkins Foundation. From now until Dec. 15, a portion of the proceeds from every Earl Wentz CD or sheet music publication will be donated by Sixpence, Inc. to the foundation. (And those dollars which are received by us before Nov. 20 will also go towards meeting our matching gift challenge -- remember, the deal is "contributions from all sources"!)

To make the offer a little more tempting, Sixpence, Inc. has also generously agreed to provide a 10% discount on all Earl Wentz products to supporters of The Earl Wentz and William Watkins Foundation. Just use the coupon code below at the online store checkout for your discounts!  There's even a special section of their online store set aside for this that you can access easily by clicking on this link: Sixpence Inc.'s Special Earl Wentz Products Section!  

Earl's beloved 2-volume CD of Christmas music, which is Sixpence Inc.'s all time bestseller by the way, is available again now and is part of this special offer. Buy it, love it, and help make our foundation's goals achievable.

P.S. There will be an all new Earl Wentz CD coming out in February from Sixpence, Inc.! You're among the first to know. Stay tuned for further announcements!