Fox Valley Rep wants to give back with fundraisers

Submitted by Fox Valley Repertory

Fox Valley Repertory, a local nonprofit, has made a strategic priority to increase its giving to other community nonprofits. In 2011, the nonprofit organization has helped raise more than $10,000 for local charities and other causes. Many in corporate America see social responsibility as not their responsibility when profit is down. Fox Valley Rep, however, is giving back to the community of which it serves and is proud to support.

The theater, which changed its name in 2011 to Fox Valley Repertory, serves the Fox Valley and has been able to help support local causes that are too struggling to find the income to support their operations. Collaboration is growing among nonprofits and groups continue to find value in working together to support dual causes. This summer, Fox Valley Repertory asked show patrons to consider making a donation as they exited the theater to support the two St. Charles Rotary Clubs and their efforts to support the eradication of polio through Rotary International. Fox Valley Repertory split funds collected 50/50 between the clubs and the Rep’s Performing Arts Academy.

Then, this fall during “They’re Playing Our Song,” patrons were encouraged to support the cause of raising funds to help support the St. Charles East High School Jazz Choir’s need for new sound equipment. More $1,600 was collected for the Jazz Choir and another $1,600 was collected for the Performing Arts Academy. This summer, students and patrons also helped raise more than $300 for the Northern Illinois Food Bank during the Little Shop of Horrors “Feed Me” campaign.

A second initiative, while not new for the Rep, is to offer Benefit nights to local nonprofits. Fox Valley Rep offers discounted tickets to local groups who can then resell the tickets to their donors, members, or the public at a price they choose to make a fundraising profit from a no-hassle night of fun to the theater. Groups such as the St. Charles Library Foundation and Fox Valley Literacy Volunteers are two of the groups in 2011 who have found success with Benefit Nights. Fox Valley Literacy Volunteers encouraged its donors to make a donation of any amount to receive tickets to attend their benefit performance on Saturday, Dec. 3, to “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.” A group of 100 that resells their tickets at regular price could make nearly $30 profit per ticket or $3,000 with little effort other than selling the tickets.

Fox Valley Rep has also found ways to support local causes by collecting items that are needed for groups such as Lazarus House, Anderson Animal Shelter, and Mooseheart. Students and patrons collected more than 500 toiletry items for Mooseheart during the summer show “Annie Jr.” and they collected 390 pounds of litter, 100 pounds of food, cleaning supplies, and some toys for Anderson Animal Shelter in South Elgin during the fall play “Alice in Wonderland Jr.”

Fox Valley Rep’s hopes that through its efforts, people will continue to support the theater and come back to see more performances that inspire them to laugh, reflect, and reconnect to moments in their lives through stories shared onstage.

For information on Fox Valley Repertory, visit foxvalleyrep.org. To get involved as a donor, sponsor or volunteer contact Scott Piner at development@foxalleyrep.org or call (630) 443-0438.