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MISSION STATEMENT
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, our mission is to provide scholarships to young people from elementary school age through college age so that they may participate in the educational experience of attending a summer music camp in the specific areas of instrumental and/or vocal music. Our mission includes the intention to promote the study and enjoyment of music and the arts, to encourage discipline and aesthetics in education, to provide opportunities for young people to share their art at a high level of excellence, and to meet with and explore ideas with other young people of various backgrounds, but similar interests. Secondarily, our mission is to promote the musical arts in performance and to give local communities an opportunity to view today’s youth in a positive and constructive light.
President's Message
Welcome to our Spring/Summer newsletter. Our primary mission is to provide scholarships to students to attend summer music camps. Our Scholarship Committee spent an entire day listening and reviewing applications to decide who should get an award and to recommend which applicants should receive our special scholarships. After they met, Laura reviewed the recommendations and attached dollar amounts to the students the committee felt were deserving of an award. This year we have awarded a record amount of scholarship funds to ninety-two musicians totaling $109,727. This was made possible because of your generosity and support.
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Laura and I attended the Long Beach All-District Concert this year in January. We were impressed with the quality of the performances and the large number of students on the stage. At the concert we heard the Middle School Ohlendorf String Orchestra, the Middle School Ohlendorf Full Orchestra, and the Middle School All-District Band. The second part of the program was the High School All-District Band and the High School All-District String Orchestra. Music programs at our public schools are growing in the number of students participating and in the quality of their performances. Hats off to all the music teachers who are working with students to rebuild their programs.
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We were also invited to hear one of two concerts hosted by the Long Beach Alumnae Chapter of the Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity. The concert featured several local musicians performing solos and duets. They raised $2,675 for scholarships with the proceeds donated to our organization. We are grateful for their support of our scholarship program.
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Our private lesson program for students in Long Beach Unified is in its third year. The funds are coming from the “Long Beach Gives” program and from our general fund. Our hope is that this program will help grow and improve the music programs in our schools. We are currently supporting private lessons for twenty-four young musicians.
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Summer is just around the corner. If possible, visit a summer music camp. Laura and I always visit the sessions that our scholarship winners are attending at Arrowbear. We take their picture and ask them to share with us how they are enjoying their camp experience. Again, I can’t thank you enough for your generous donations that make our endeavors possible. I hope you take some time this summer to relax and enjoy life.
Cliff Kusaba
President
Become a Subscriber
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Go Green and become a subscriber. Instead of receiving a paper edition of our newsletters, you’ll receive an electronic version. The numerous photos are in full color and all the links are live. You’ll help us save money on printing and postage that can help send more young musicians to a summer music camp. It’s easy. Just click on the button and register.
Giving Tuesday
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Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement that emphasizes opportunities to give back to communities and worthy causes. It was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. It has grown into a global movement that inspires millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.
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Arrowbear Music Associates participated
on November 28, 2023.
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We raised $95 for summer music camp scholarships
thanks to the generosity of our donors.
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Giving Tuesday 2024 will take place on
Tuesday, December 3, 2024.
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Donations are processed through Fundraisers
on our Facebook group page and our Instagram page.
December 3, 2024
HOW CAN I DONATE?
There are multiple ways you can support providing scholarships for summer music camps. We accept donations by check and by credit card through PayPal. For some of you, writing a check, addressing an envelope, and locating a stamp is too time consuming or just flat-out “old school.” There are lots of other ways you can help us help young musicians. Check out these additional options.
Snow and More Snow
California mountain communities experienced record breaking back-to-back snow storms in late February and early March 2023. The governor declared a state of emergency in 13 counties affected by the storms. Yosemite National Park was closed for several weeks as it dealt with 15 feet of snow. In the San Bernardino Mountains, snowfall blocked the roads, trapped residents in their homes, and stranded people who work down the hill from reaching their mountain homes for days. Schools in the Running Springs and Lake Arrowhead areas closed for nearly 3 weeks due to the unprecedented amount of snowfall that sometimes towered as high as second-story windows. Disaster response and relief efforts were hampered by the amount of snow. Neighbors relied on each other until roads were finally cleared.
Residents and businesses experienced roof collapses, cars completely buried, and trying to tunnel out of their front doors to reach the street. Even after the main roads were passable, neighborhood streets remained unplowed. Where do you put that much snow? Arrowbear Music Camp was spared any damage, but the snow level on the ground was mind-boggling.
Camp Sign
Camp Porch
Dining Hall
