Philanthropists Will Match Donations for Local Arts Centre up to $20,000!

Philanthropists Will Match Donations for Local Arts Centre up to $20,000!
By Katie Hall

The holiday season is a time for giving through charity and volunteerism. The Ross Creek Centre for the Arts gives the gift of art and nature to creatives of all ages and skill levels from Nova Scotia and around the world all year round. Inspired by the Centre’s work and the holiday season, local philanthropists Jason Roth and Cheryl Steadmen-Roth have created a challenge for the community: until December 24, they are offering to match anything donated to the couple’s charities of choice, the Ross Creek Centre for the Arts and its sister, Two Planks and a Passion Theatre, up to $20,000!

The Roths have been donors and advocates of the Centre for many years and have seen first-hand the positive effect Ross Creek Centre for the Arts has had on the province through its arts education, as well as the wider arts community, through both artistic excellence and innovate programming. They believe that supporting the organization is an investment in Nova Scotia’s arts culture. When asked about why they are involved, Jason Roth said “we believe that Ross Creek and Two Planks stimulate, entertain, teach, challenge, and inspire people to think. They change lives.” Knowing that not everyone has the resources to make large donations individually, the Roths issued a challenge for the community at large to raise the funds together. The Centre’s executive director, Chris O’Neill, thinks the challenge is a great idea, “The Matching Funds Donation Challenge is a fantastic way to show our supporters that you don’t need to be able to make a huge donation to make a real difference. Every contribution helps. If our networks can come together and each give what they can, it will take no time to take full advantage of the Roths’ generous challenge.”

O’Neill knows better than anyone the demanding efforts it takes to thrive as an arts non-profit in Nova Scotia, but reflects that all the hard work is worth it: “Being here transforms people, whether audience members, children at camp, youth at risk learning to deal with trauma through artistic expression, or artists developing new work at the highest level. Ross Creek is an organization worth investing in for now and for our future.”

2018 has seen incredible change and advancement for the Centre and donations are more important then ever as they work on their campaign ‘Building the Future:’ an effort to invigorate and ensure the quality of the Centre’s infrastructure, programming, and outreach for the years to come.

Donors can let Ross Creek determine where their funds are most needed or give specifically to an area of the Centre that is important to them: their award-winning theatre, Ross Creek’s arts education and outreach programs, bursaries or scholarships, artist residencies, or their environmental efficiency improvements to the facilities.

Any donation received by December 24 goes towards the Matching Funds Challenge. If you would like to donate and support this cause, please visit: artscentre.ca/donate or contact the Ross Creek Centre for the Arts: mail@artscentre.ca, (902) 582-3842.