Thank You
Thousands of people in the Charlotte community work to make this region a more interesting, prosperous, livable, compassionate and optimistic place for all of us. Thanks to those on these pages for their contributions. They represent many others who are equally deserving of our gratitude in 2008. May their examples inspire us in 2009.
Jen Band and her Playing For Others group
Jen Band is a 20-something theater educator at the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte who three years ago combined her love of the arts, teens and special needs children. The result: Playing for Others, a nonprofit group for middle- and high school students that each year raises money for a designated agency that helps children, with the teens having special-needs “buddies” from the agency. This year it’s Easter Seals/UCP. (The Playing for Others members and their buddies are pictured here, with Band at far right.)
Here’s the key: The teens are learning how nonprofits work. They find corporate sponsors, ask friends and family for money and put on each year’s fund-raising theater and arts event. This year they’ll produce the musical “Honk” in March, and while they’re at it they’ll be absorbing deeper lessons on becoming the community service leaders of tomorrow. As Band puts it, “You’re teaching these teens about changing the world.” To be more accurate, she is.