Letter from Peter McKay

Dear Willowbrook Friends and Family,

Just a few months ago I spent my 21^st summer at Willowbrook. Sure, there have been some changes over the years, but the creative spirit and sense of wonder haven’t changed a bit since I was an eight-year-old camper. This summer, while directing a performance of Annie, Jr., I remember one child auditioning for the show on her first day. Although timid at first, she soon found some kindred spirits, and together they went traipsing off across the field to make a basket. Willowbrook is a place where individuality is celebrated, and campers seem to sense that freedom the moment they pass through the front gate. When I saw the camper again at the end of the day, her hands were full of newly-made projects, and she and her new friends were already making plans for tomorrow’s adventures. Although moments like this happen every day at Willowbrook, it always puts a smile on my face, and reminds me what has kept me coming back all these years.

Like Wonderland, Neverland, Brigadoon, and Oz, Willowbrook is a magical place bred of imagination and kept alive by the shared belief in its power and importance. And we are all a part of Willowbrook’s story! You are part of Willowbrook, and it simply wouldn’t exist without you.

With your amazing support, Willowbrook was able to raise nearly $7,200 this year from donations, as well as over $6,000 at the annual art auction for the scholarship fund. It is your continued generosity that allows us to keep tuition far lower than most other summer programs in the Portland area. No child should be deprived of the chance to develop their creative potential because money stands in their way.

We know times are tough right now. The economy has found its way into nearly every conversation recently, and the future is full of question marks. However, by donating $1,000, $500, $100, $50, or whatever you can afford to Willowbrook today, you can be assured that this is a solid investment in your child’s future, and the futures of nearly 2,000 other children each summer. Our goal this year is to raise $20,000 to help cover the rising cost of operations and much needed improvements.

What is one of your child’s favorite areas at Willowbrook? Is it puppetry where a sock became a superhero? Is it Nature where they watched a volcano erupt before their eyes? Ask them to remember and do their part to keep Willowbrook in their hearts all year long. We’re asking you to do the same thing by using the enclosed donation envelope for your gift.

In the words of our treasured founder, Althea Pratt-Broome, “If we expect the world to be a more fulfilling place for humanity, we must begin with children. May Willowbrook make its own small contribution to the dream.”

Please return your donation by December 31^st. And, from my heart, I thank you!

Peter McKay

Performing Arts Coordinator

P.S. Don’t forget, your gift to Willowbrook is tax deductible!

We are a part of Oregon Cultural Trust, and continue to be an active participant on their list of eligible cultural nonprofits this tax season. For more information on the gift match and additional tax credit, visit www.culturaltrust.org.

Willowbrook is a non-profit organization EIN # 93-0722365