Alan Champion Memorial Fund

In an earlier posting, I wrote about giving back to the community. There are many organizations and events that one could donate/contribute to (whether it is by monetary means, or volunteering oneself, the choices are endless). The Alan Champion Memorial Fund for Interpreted Theatre presented by the HandsOn organization based in New York City may be one for readers to consider.

For those who may recall my earlier posting on the late Alan Champion (alter ego: Mr. Broadway Interpreter), the fund continues in his name to encourage more sign language interpreted events.

 "At his request and in his honor we have established the Alan Champion Memorial Fund, where your support will go to help us continue the sign interpreted theater he so dearly loved. We hope that Alan’s legacy will be that interpreted theater continues to thrive and flourish for the benefit of the Deaf community." (HandsOn)

As a longtime patron of the arts, I decided to donate to this organization this holiday season.  I try to pick different arts organization every year to donate to. This year's contribution was made in memory of my late grandmother who also had a passion for the theatre and shared my love of musical theatre. She was the one that told my mother about the arts program at the Center on Deafness (now the International Center on Deafness and the Arts) and spurred my theatre days as a spectator and as an artist. Fond memories of signing "Do-Re-Mi" from The Sound of Music during its Youth Fine Arts Day as well as performing onstage as the lovable Caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland come to mind.

 (Fun Fact: the Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin also got her start at the same organization performing as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.)

If my contribution enables that a child or adult has the opportunity to experience something I love and hold dear - the magic of live theatre - then it is defintely more than its worth.

Please consider making a contribution to an arts organization, either locally or nationally or even internationally to promote access to the arts for all. If you have made a donation, please share the name of the organization/event in the comments section to inspire others to follow suit!



*Photo Credit: BroadwayWorld