ADDISON, TX – WaterTower Theatre unveiled a new fundraising campaign, titled Sustain the Mission, with a simple yet critical objective: to sustain the theater through this unprecedented time for arts organizations while delivering the innovative and high-quality programming its patrons have come to expect.
“WaterTower is, like most other arts organizations, working hard to ensure we survive the pandemic and its effect on our organization, while at the same time focusing on creative ways to continue to deliver professional theatre to you.” says Producing Artistic Director, Shane Peterman. “Your support is paramount right now and our new campaign allows our dear friends to donate to WaterTower Theatre on a monthly basis helping us to stay viable.”
Since assuming his role on March 1, 2019, Peterman responded effectively to some of WaterTower’s most immediate needs using an approach centered on sound programming and smart business planning. Thanks to this fiscally responsible planning, WaterTower Theatre is in a good position to survive the current pandemic and has become an industry leader in innovation with safety and adaptability in mind every step of the way. The changes that WTT has put in place to ensure employee safety and the survival of the organization have increased overhead costs significantly but are necessary new line items in our budgets looking forward. Testing, PPE, sanitization, film, editing costs have increased budgets by nearly 20%.
With the help of last season’s Ignite the Mission campaign, WaterTower Theatre raised $95,000 which replenished its financial resources and ensured its ability to serve North Texas for generations to come. The organization successfully re-invigorated North Texans’ passion and support for professional theater.
“I have been a longtime supporter of WaterTower Theatre, even before becoming a part of the team one year ago, because I know that WTT pays all their artists. That commitment to professional theater has helped foster an incredible community of extremely talented community of arts professionals right here in North Texas. I am proud to be a part of this organization and invite you to become a sustaining member,” Elizabeth Kensek, Associate Producer.
With a goal of raising $100,000 during the 25th Anniversary Season: October 2020-September 2021, WaterTower plans to combine grass-roots fundraising efforts with personal donor engagement. The Sustain the Mission campaign promises that no amount donated is too small and donors will be able to pledge an ongoing monthly sustaining gift that will support WTT during these unprecedented times.
To encourage Sustaining Membership before the end of 2020, WTT will be holding a drawing in the new year. For every $5 pledged by an individual between October 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020, you will earn an entry in a raffle to win a $500 VISA Gift Card. And remember that your donation is completely tax-deductible. Even if you do not itemize, the CARES Act provides us all the opportunity to claim an additional charitable deduction up to $300 dollars in 2020.
To stay in the loop, follow the campaign’s progress via social media and the WaterTower website.
“Whether you’re a loyal subscriber or a supporter of the arts in general, we want you to know your contribution counts in our collective story during this challenging time,” Peterman asserts. “We cannot do this without you. Let’s sustain our future together.”
Tax-deductible donations can be made online at www.watertowertheatre.org/ignite-the-mission.
About WaterTower Theatre
Founded in 1996, WaterTower Theatre (WTT) is one of Texas' leading professional theatre companies and one of the flagship arts institutions in North Texas, having played an important role as a leader in developing new talent and encouraging the growth of the DFW artistic community through its commitment to hiring local artists. In March of 2019, Shane Peterman joined WTT in his current leadership position as Producing Artistic Director. WaterTower Theatre is consistently recognized for its artistic excellence by the Dallas Theatre League, DFW Theatre Critics Forum, The Dallas Morning News, The Dallas Observer, D Magazine, The Column, and The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, among others. WaterTower Theatre has a subscription base of more than 1,100 subscribers and serves an audience of over 24,000 patrons annually.
WaterTower Theatre is 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, proudly operating under an SPT license with Actors Equity Association, the labor union representing American actors and stage managers. WaterTower Theatre relies on its ticket income and generous donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, and government organizations to produce world-class live professional theatre and to offer community engagement and arts education programs. WaterTower Theatre gratefully acknowledges the support of the Town of Addison, The Civic League, The Shubert Foundation, TACA, Texas Commission on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. WaterTower Theatre’s current 2019-2020 season is also supported, in part, through the generosity of its many civic, corporate, and foundation donors including AMLI Residential Addison, CIC Partners, FASTSIGNS Carrollton, Guaranty Bank, ONCOR, and individual donors Don and Barbara Daseke, The Bob Downs Family, Stan Graner and Jim McBride, Phillip and Janeva Longacre, Kathy Messina and Gary Goodwin, Janiece and Jimmy Niemann, Karol Omlor, Jack and Libby Swindle, Deborah and Craig Sutton, and Ron and Donna Whitehead.
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