December 2011

Dear Friend of Blue Lake,

As we reflect on our 46th year of serving children and youth, how better to communicate a student’s experience at camp then through their own words:

What is art?
Art is an expression of what you are feeling.

Art is an experience that can change your life - or just your hour.

Art is a community of talented, caring people that you can be a part of. From the second you pick up an instrument, or look at a piece of music, or canvas, and it lasts for the rest of your life.

What is camp?
Camp is a place to learn, and to grow as an artist.
Camp is where you can be yourself and do what you love.

And whatever happens in your life, camp will always be there as a place for people from anywhere to be united.

Sophie Taft,  7th Grader
Orchestra Major, Vilanelle Unit

For many of our campers, attending Blue Lake simply wouldn’t be possible without financial assistance, and with support of people like you, we awarded more than $2 million in scholarships to deserving students during 2011. Please know that your continued support truly makes a difference and we appreciate your consideration of a year-end gift to sustain our work for the coming year.

We often talk about the impact Blue Lake has on a camper’s life, and this was reinforced in August when many past campers, some now in their 60’s!, returned to camp for our inaugural Alumni Day. How gratifying it was to hear their stories and how Blue Lake had on an impact on their lives and careers.

If you are a past camper, or perhaps a past member of our valued faculty or staff, I would like to personally invite you to come back to camp for our 2nd Annual Alumni Day on Saturday, August 4, 2012. The day will culminate with a special performance of the Verdi Requiem with the Blue Lake Festival Orchestra, Staff Choir, International Choir and Alumni Choir under the Direction of Dr. Richard Rossi.

Better yet, please consider participating as a member of our Alumni Choir and be on stage for what promises to be an historic evening. Log on to www.bluelake.org or call the camp at 800-221-3796 for more information, and please plan to join us.

In considering your year-end gift to Blue Lake, we encourage you to make good use of the income tax charitable deduction. Your gift can significantly reduce your income taxes, while providing meaningful support for Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.

To illustrate how this works, we have enclosed a brochure outlining 2011 year-end gift ideas. If you have questions or would like to structure a specialized gift, annuity or scholarship endowment, please contact the Blue Lake Development Office at 800-221-3796, ext: 210.

Thank you for your generous support and best wishes to you and your family from Blue Lake for the holiday season.

Sincerely,

fritz  
Fritz Stansell
President  		 

Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp is recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt organization and gifts are tax deductible as allowed by law. Contributions to Blue Lake Public Radio bring the additional advantage of a tax benefit from the State of Michigan.