Tax-exempt Donations
Beauty and the Beast Storytellers have a not-for-profit sponsor called "Tandem Productions" that enables them to write grants to foundations and solicit funding from a variety of sources. This has allowed them to lead a storytelling project for over twenty years in their hometown district, Ithaca, NY. Click here to read articles that describe the project.
Donations range from the $25 "Story" category to the $250 "Whopper" and $5,000 "Fairy Godmother." If you would like to contribute, print out the Donation Form and send your tax-exempt donation to "Tandem Productions" at the following address:
Tandem Productions
137 Northview Road
Ithaca, New York 14850
For more information, please contact Mitch and Martha here. To view the complete list of donors, click here.
Sample Thank-You Letters from Student Tellers
These letters were written by third graders in Ithaca, New York to thank individuals, businesses. and foundations that supported Beauty & the Beast's storytelling project.
Click on any thank-you to make it bigger.
Marty Kaminsky, president of the Tandem Productions Board wrote the following letter asking for community support:
Thank you so much for your past support of the storytelling project. I am writing on behalf of the Board of Tandem Productions, the not-for-profit sponsor of Beauty and the Beast Storytellers, to ask that you continue your support. Now, more than ever, we need this talented team in our schools, inspiring our children and giving every third grader a chance to shine. As one parent wrote:
"Continuing the Beauty & the Beast storytelling project is, in my opinion, a MUST! From the moment our daughter came home to tell us she was going to learn how to tell a story and then tell it in front of parents, to numerous times of practicing it at home, to the final moment of standing up in front of an audience, her excitement was practically tangible. What a wonderful asset to give these children the confidence and ability to speak in front of a group, entertaining them all the while. I found it hard to believe I was watching 8 and 9-year-old children perform! They clearly loved the experience. Mitch and Martha gave them a tool to believe in themselves and THAT is priceless. In a time when our children are being measured over and over again on increasingly more complex state assessments, it is refreshing to see that someone has taken the time to teach them a skill that, while not measurable on a 'fill in the bubble' sheet, will remain with them a lifetime."
The rave reviews from parents, teachers, and students attest to the educational value of this project. Here is another comment from a parent:
"The third grade storytelling project is one of the most exciting, educational, and inspiring events that children participate in while in elementary school. It builds confidence, public speaking skills, respect for classmates, and a love of storytelling. Besides the story my son chose to tell, he learned many others from listening to his classmates and takes great joy in sharing them while we ride in the car. I volunteer in my son's classroom and was able to observe Mitch and Martha. They are so encouraging and deliver their comments for improvement in a way that supports excellence and self-esteem. No matter what occupations our children pursue they will clearly need to express themselves verbally and with expression, not to mention how important verbal expression is in social situations. I had the chance to watch the progression of skills acquired as the shyest, quietest children learned to open up, use gestures, and tell a story that captured the audience. Yeah Mitch and Martha! Watching the children during the evening performance brought tears of joy to my eyes."
Mitch Weiss and Martha Hamilton, nationally renowned storytellers and authors of numerous award winning books, lead the project. We are indeed fortunate that they make their home in Ithaca. The project began at Enfield School in 1986 and for many years was implemented in all eight elementary schools. Funds came from the New York State Council on the Arts (which no longer funds district-wide projects) and the Ithaca City School District (ICSD), with each school paying a small part. Ever since ICSD funds were cut in 2003, Mitch and Martha have undertaken the daunting task of raising half of the funds, and asking individual schools to pay half. Funding from the Triad Foundation and the Vector Magnetics Fund, along with smaller amounts from other local foundations, organizations, and folks like you, is the reason the storytelling project has continued in several schools. For the '11-'12 school year, Mitch and Martha will teach storytelling at Belle Sherman, Caroline, Northeast, Fall Creek, and Cayuga Heights.
For more information on Mitch and Martha's work, see www.beautyandthebeaststorytellers.com. If you would like to attend a family storytelling night or if you have questions regarding the project, contact Mitch and Martha. Any ideas for fund raising would be welcomed; refer those who might be interested in helping to their Web site under "Tax Exempt Donations" at the top of each page.
Your tax-deductible contribution to help continue this project would be greatly appreciated. We would be glad to send you a receipt for tax purposes. Your name will be listed on a flyer at each of the evening events for families.
Thank you very much for considering this request.
Sincerely,
Marty Kaminsky
President, Board of Tandem Productions
THANK YOU!
Mitch and Martha are extremely grateful to the Triad Foundation and the Vector Magnetics Fund, without which this project would not have continued in Ithaca, and all of the following donors:
Fairy Godmother: $5,000 or more
Triad Foundation
Vector Magnetics Fund
Epic: $2,500 or more
Legend $1,000 or more
Brooks Family Foundation
Saga: $500 or more
Timothy & Mary Ann Colbert
Marcia Cutting & Family
Marilyn Dalfino
Jeff & Robin Henig
Sandy & Jay True
Whopper: $250 or more
Dora & Anthony Fratelli
Tall Tale: $100 or more
Anonymous
Molly & Barry Adams
BorgWarner Morse TEC, The Philanthropy Committee
Byrnes Family Fund
Debra Castillo
Tim & Mary Ann Colbert
Barbara Johnson Foote
David Shmoys & Eva Tardos
Charlotte & Arthur Shull
John Young/Susan Barnett
Myth: $50 or more
Greg & Buff Boyce
Gould & Cynthia Coleman
Howard Feinstein, MD
Diane Feldman & Ileen DeVault
Maralyn Fleming
Mary & Brad Grainger
Janet Lowe
Terry & Randy Marcus
Jim Rothenberg & Mariana Wolffner
Alice Moore & Robert Smith
Nancy Sorrells
Ceil Spero
Michael & Karen Shuler
Charlotte & Arthur Shull
Robbert VanRenesse & Lesley Greene
Story: $25 or more
Debra Castillo
Joyce & Cheki Dev
Diane Feldman & Ileen Devault
Martha Frommelt & David Feldshuh
Linda & Charles Garbo
Alice E. Garmezy
Rosemarie Parker & Sol Gruner
Nerissa Russell
Michael & Karen Shuler
Alison & Elliott Smith
Mark & Ingrid Zabel