BTYP Raises $600 For

Bend Area Habitat for Humanity

 

As tough economic times hit Central Oregon families hard, Bend Theatre for Young People's student actors found a way to reach out and help their neighbors. This past fall, at the suggestion of Director Thiel Larson, BTYP's board, staff and students decided to make 2009's Annual Holiday Play a benefit, donating the proceeds to the Bend Area Habitat for Humanity. 

Larson chose the play Makin' Room, a musical by Dennis and Nan Allen, which teaches to give to others as we have received ourselves.  During the course of the play, the cast of fourteen children, ages ranging from 8 to 12, sang and danced their hearts out as they discovered that while filming a video for a fundraiser that they had lost track of the true reasons for their actions, and then were brought back to reality when one of their cast members loses their apartment and was left homeless.  The production became especially powerful when two Habitat families stepped on stage to share their own stories. 

With an amazing generosity for the students' families and friends, as well as other supporters of BTYP, we were able to make a mighty donation of $600. On Thursday, December 30th, BTYP's Artistic Director Gary Bowne and Director Thiel Larson handed over the check to Bend Area Habitat for Humanity's Development Director Mark Quinlan.

BTYP hopes that this is the first in a long-lasting relationship with the Bend Area Habitat for Humanity and is proud of their student actors for reaching out to those in need in our community.