Update - July 6th

Thanks so much for supporting Vera's 2009 Spring Fund Drive!

Vera's Members and volunteers successfully rallied to meet a $5,000 fundraising challenge in the last week of the drive. Combined with the generous donations of Vera's friends, family, Board and staff, this brought us to nearly $18,000 raised to support Vera's 2009 programming. And we still have a few last-minute donations trickling in here and there.

We are truly lucky to have a community so willing to put its money where its mouth is and keep all-ages music and art alive in Seattle. Many thanks to all who donated, wrote letters asking for contributions, organized events and otherwise supported the 2009 Spring Fund Drive.

You make Vera happen.

Hope to see you at a show soon! Check out www.theveraproject.org for all our upcoming concerts, classes and events.

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Update- June 23rd

We are almost halfway to our goal, and with a week left Vera has received a $2,500 challenge from a former Board member. If Vera's volunteers and Members can raise $5,000 between June 23rd and July 1st, we will get an additional $2,500!

If you are a friend or relation to any of the thousands who participate in Vera each year, or if you have volunteered or been part of Vera in the past, please make a donation to help us meet this challenge. Consider it a small payment for the countless hours young people put into running Vera and keeping all-ages music and art thriving.

The Vera Project’s second annual Spring Fund Drive

Wondering how Vera has been holding up? Well, despite the dreary economy, swine flu and all the other downers out there today, the Vera Project is thriving with amazing shows like Dan Deacon, Trial, The Lonely Forest, and Mirah, tons of great visual art shows and classes in everything from silk-screening to sound engineering. More people are coming to Vera than ever before: last year alone over 37,000 people came through Vera’s doors, and over 1,000 people volunteered and took classes at Vera. The energy being generated by the many talented artists and young people at Vera is truly inspiring, and the best part is that it’s a true community effort – Vera exists because of the people who support it, be they volunteers, contributing artists or donors. Music and art help all of us get through doldrums, economic or otherwise, and Vera continues to keep music and art accessible and affordable to people of all ages.

Nonetheless, Vera is seeing the effects of the weak economy. Vera relies on donations from individuals, businesses and private foundations for over 63% of our annual income. With foundation and corporate giving down due to a hurting stock market and rough economy, Vera needs your support right now.

You can be part of the Vera Project’s 2009 Spring Fund Drive! This May and June we are asking you, as true and sincere friends of all-ages music and youth-driven art, to help raise $20,000 for Vera. Chances are you’re reading this because Vera means something to you, a friend, or family member. To countless people in the Seattle area Vera is a stable place for awesome all-ages shows, a place to meet friends and like-minded artists, a place to learn skills in music and arts production and a place to launch careers in the music, arts and non-profit industries. By supporting Vera you will help keep Seattle’s music and arts community strong and contribute to the lives of tens of thousands of young people.

Please consider a donation today. You can donate through this site, and here are a few other ways you can help:

•Set up an on-going pledge in an amount that fits your budget. $20 a month - just a few less lattes - gives a young person the opportunity to take classes in silkscreen printing, live sound or studio recording, and helps Vera stay affordable to all. To set up your pledge, email Sarina at sarinar@theveraproject.org.

•Have your employer match your donation. Many local companies, including Microsoft and Boeing, will match the charitable contributions made by their employees, effectively doubling your donation!

•Come to a show, class, or tour Vera’s venue. There’s no better way to experience Vera’s unique blend of shows, education, and participatory structure than by seeing it firsthand. Visit www.theveraproject.org for show and class schedules, or email nickt@theveraproject.org to set up a tour.

•Get the word out! Tell your friends, family, co-workers and anyone else you can think of. Click the Share This Page link above to email this page, grab a fundraising widget for your website, link this page to your Facebook profile, send out a Myspace bulletin, or throw a dinner in support of Vera.

Thanks for supporting all-ages music and art!

Veri et Recti Amici – True and Sincere Friends
The Vera Project | 206-956-8372 | 305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109 | www.theveraproject.org

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About The Vera Project

The Vera Project is a music and arts center that fosters a participatory creative culture through popular music concerts, arts programs, experiential learning and volunteer opportunities for all ages, especially for young people. Vera fundamentally believes that popular music is a vital force in our community, and that young people and adults have the ability, and the right, to shape this culture.

Vera is located at the Seattle Center and serves people of all ages, with a focus on teens and young adults. Programming serves over 37,000 people annually and includes:

These activities are initiated and driven collaboratively by Vera’s youth-led Membership, volunteers, Vera staff and the Vera Board of Directors. Programming for Vera blends the energy, talent and resourcefulness of the young participants with the expertise of some of Seattle's most experienced community leaders. Vera’s innovative structure gives participants the means to enjoy music and art while participating in arts production and non-profit management. The skills participants gain at Vera activate future creativity, careers and leadership within Vera and in the greater community.