Letter of November 1, 2007

Dear Willowbrook Friends and Family,

Brown's Ferry Park is quieter these days. The flurry of Willowbrook has given way to the relaxed pace of walkers, joggers, dogs, and resident wildlife. But next June, Willowbrook will reappear on the landscape like some magical Brigadoon or fairy toadstool popping out of the ground to welcome your children for another summer of arts exploration. As a quiet park transforms into a wonderland of joyful activity, children are transformed by creative abandonment!

So it has been now for sixteen years at the park, and before that, at founder and Director Althea Pratt-Broome's historic home—a total of 26 years of fulfillment of her lifelong dream to provide a place where children can embark on adventures in the arts, free of the structure and constraints of most learning environments. At Willowbrook, children thrill to a rich array of offerings that include drama, dance, instrumental and vocal music, creative writing, photography, filmmaking, and nature studies. They delight in fine arts, crafts from around the world, stained glass, ceramics, basketry, weaving and puppetry. They flourish in an atmosphere that fosters community and encourages discovery and free expression.

Willowbrook flourishes because of you--family, friends, alumni and staff, who bring your children and creative gifts, and support Willowbrook with your contributions. In 2007, your generous donations helped us purchase trailers for a darkroom, office, supply storage, and the Nature and Stagecraft centers. Several bright and airy new tents were bought to replace the well-worn green ones. Proceeds from the summer auction have set us well on our way toward acquiring a forklift. Proceeds from art sales will secure scholarships for children next year. We thank you for your part in keeping Willowbrook vibrant and on Portland's cultural map!

Althea wrote, “When we were children our imaginations took us everywhere. Imagination is the necessary ingredient for fully understanding our world. It is the creative source of our lives and the necessary component of all profound knowing and engagement with life. Willowbrook is a community where children may develop the confidence to express themselves uniquely, without being rejected.”

Willowbrook’s power to aid this development was eloquently described by a staff member:

"The vision implemented at Willowbrook respects each individual's inner compass to lead them to what most supports their natural process. In any day the child follows his or her inclinations, curiosity and discovery through this banquet of art and learning opportunities. This has great relevance to the child; who he is and what he will become--a happier and healthier person because he has found and is in touch with his creative core."

We at Willowbrook are firm believers that the impact of the arts on a child's mind and the importance of supporting their existence in a child's life cannot be overestimated. Positive experiences in culture are essential ingredients in educating the whole person. Children given the opportunity to engage in the creative process are better equipped to engage successfully with life. Academic performance increases and self esteem and confidence grow.

In a time of diminishing financial support for cultural resources in schools, we are challenged to seek outside these institutions for enrichment for our children. For more than a quarter of a century, Willowbrook has answered this need. Operating almost entirely without grants or donations, it has maintained student tuition well below that of most other area camps in order to serve children from diverse backgrounds. Its outreach has grown to include all of the Portland Metropolitan area, and beyond. Attendance has burgeoned to an average of 450 children per day, with over 1,900 students registered in 2007! Last year, Willowbrook was hailed by the Portland Monthly as one of the three best art camps in Oregon.

Althea's tenacious commitment to her creative vision has guided Willowbrook to this success. At an age when most would rather watch the world from a calm vantage, she has generously devoted her retirement years to its mission, entirely without monetary compensation. Although she owns many rocking chairs, it is difficult to picture Althea actually using one! At last, she may. She is passing the torch, and we are passing over a threshold to a new reality--the need for a paid Program Director.

Accolade-winning quality and strong administration come at a cost. Growth demands increased staff, supplies and equipment beyond what tuition can support. We urgently need to replace more failing tents, as well as buy an additional ceramic kiln and new instruments. Our computers and bookkeeping systems must be upgraded and a reserve fund built. Our wish list includes a sound and lighting system for performances. We are faced with a need for outside funding sources in order to avoid substantially raising tuition.

Our goal for 2008 is to raise $45,000 through fundraising, financial assistance and grant procurement. We believe that this is possible! In 2004, Willowbrook had its first fundraising drive and received its first grant. Two more successful drives and three more grants have followed. We have been greatly encouraged by these successes and the knowledge that so many of you keep Willowbrook close to your hearts. Thanks in large part to you, Willowbrook is gaining momentum towards a planned, financially secure and sustainable future.

The next decades lie before us, holding unique promises and challenges for our youth. Their ability to transform the world fearlessly and with creative light depends on how we have enriched their minds and independent spirits. Willowbrook can provide an important piece of their strong foundation and a touchstone for positive accomplishment. As we ask the community for support in our mission to children, it is still your gift that means the most to us. Your $1,000, $500, $100, $50, or whatever you can afford, will help us answer immediate needs while building a legacy for the next generation.

As they made their final trip through the front gate, out the driveway, and down the road at the end of camp this past summer, a ten-year-old girl asked her mother if she could drive by just one more time. Knowing that goodbye hugs had already been exchanged and final tears of fondness shed, her mother wisely told her to keep Willowbrook as a wonderful memory until next year. Her daughter replied, “I think I left a little piece of my soul at Willowbrook.”

Those of us who have had a transformative experience at Willowbrook carry its light with us throughout the year. Our fervent hope for the future is that your children's children will be able to include Willowbrook in their summer plans, and leave little pieces of their souls to share with those yet to come!

We have enclosed an envelope for your gift. Please return your donation by December 30th.

With deepest gratitude from our hearts,

Althea Pratt-Broome, Founder
Peter Thacker, Board Chair

P.S. Don’t forget, your gift to Willowbrook is tax deductible! We have given our information to the Oregon Cultural Trust and will be included in their list of eligible cultural nonprofits this tax season. For more information on a tax credit and gift match to OCT, visit www.culturaltrust.org.