I am posting this to alert you to an upcoming benefit supporting Young Audiences New Jersey, New Jersey's largest arts education provider, bringing inspiring arts performances, workshops and residencies to nearly 500,000 children across the state each year. With school arts funding crumbling throughout the state, their upcoming Dazzle benefit has never been more timely—or necessary.
Young Audiences New Jersey Benefit
Dazzle 2011: The Wild West Extravaganza
WHEN: Saturday, March 5, 2011, from 8:00 to 11:00 PM
WHERE: Princeton Elks Lodge in Skillman, N.J.
TICKETS: For ticket prices and to order tickets, click HERE
Dazzle is open to the public. For tickets, information and photos of raffle and silent auction items, visit www.dazzlenj.org or call 866.500.9265.
Arts education supporters will enjoy an evening of great entertainment, honors, and upscale prizes at Young Audiences New Jersey’s benefit, Dazzle 2011: The Wild West Extravaganza.
Proceeds from Dazzle support Young Audiences New Jersey (YANJ), a nonprofit organization that provides extraordinary, inspiring arts experiences to New Jersey’s children. Last year alone, YANJ’s performances and hands-on workshops were presented in 700 schools and community venues to nearly 500,000 children and 1,600 teachers across the state.
Dazzle’s Wild West theme features a full Texas-style BBQ, and entertainment from some of the same talented performers that YANJ brings into schools:
- The legendary Doo-Wah Riders Band (above) headlines the evening, blending high-energy country with a Cajun twist
- Pat Cannon’s Foot & Fiddle Dance Co. features foot-stomping traditional American music and dance
- Broadway veteran Bill Bowers will serve as the evening’s emcee
Guests can enter a raffle for a week’s stay at a private Tuscan villa that accommodates 10 people and has a private pool. In addition, attendees can bid on many upscale silent auction items, including:
- A week’s stay at the luxurious Torian Plum Condos in Steamboat Springs, CO
- Miele’s popular S2121 Capri vacuum cleaner
- A shopping spree at Nick Hilton, Princeton’s distinctive apparel retailer
- A fall Cape May getaway at a beautiful Diamond Beach condo
- Tickets to The NYC Ballet’s 2011 performance of “The Nutcracker”
- A special selection of high-end wines, valued at $750
YANJ will present two “Champion of Arts Education” Awards at Dazzle:
Wells Fargo, a long-time supporter of YANJ, is being honored for their dedication to YANJ’s Trenton Adopt-a-School program, designed to keep the arts alive in Trenton’s challenged school system. This year, the program is providing arts and literacy programming to every elementary student in Trenton. Princeton resident Brenda Ross-Dulan (right), Wells Fargo’s executive vice president and regional president for Southern New Jersey, is accepting the award. 
The second award honors the legacy of Berda Rittenhouse (right), considered the founder of the arts education movement in New Jersey. Rittenhouse, a longtime Milford resident, passed away in December. During her life she promoted arts and creativity as a critical component of every child’s education. Her work with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts pioneered some of the most innovative arts programs in the state.
YANJ is the first arts education organization designated as a major service organization by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and, as part of the national network of Young Audiences, Inc. was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Clinton. The 4,500 programs provided annually by YANJ are made possible in part through a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State and funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. Visit www.yanj-yaep.org.
