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Organizational Goals VOICES' goals are to provide an opportunity for members of our community <br />to experience the joy of choral singing in an inclusive organization that <br />strives for excellence; and to maximize our community impact with <br />thoughtful and beautifully organized and performed concerts that are <br />accessible and affordable for a wide audience. <br />W e have substantially rebuilt our membership since COVID times to very <br />healthy levels, which is a tribute to the artistry of both Dr. Futrell and Dr. <br />Abe. This provides an important base for expanding our community <br />presence because we depend on members to spread the word about our <br />concerts to their personal networks. Our “Pay W hat You Can” initiative <br />continues to make our concerts more accessible to a wider range of <br />patrons and, we believe, has broadened our audience. <br />W e also use repertoire selection to advance our goals, in different ways. <br />Sometimes, we offer familiar, well-loved selections to attract people who <br />are new to us, both as audience members and singers. Classical choral <br />music through the ages is also an educational foundation to many of our <br />concerts, often featured in surprising ways to contrast with modern pieces. <br />In some programs we also attempt to present selections that address larger <br />themes and concerns of our community. <br />For example, our May 2025 concert, “Shadow and Light,” presented a <br />compassionate, honest exploration of how Alzheimer’s affects individuals <br />and their families over the course of its progression. It was difficult material <br />for many of us, singers and audience members alike; yet it attempted to <br />bring perspective to, and a deeper understanding of, a set of profound life <br />challenges. To enrich this concert experience, VOICES partnered with R <br />Place, a wonderful volunteer-based respite program based on the <br />therapeutic benefits of social engagement and the importance of inclusion <br />for people affected by dementia and their care partners. W e appreciated <br />their reaching out to their community to spread the word about our concert <br />and providing an information table at the event to educate our audience and <br />singers. W e promoted the good work of R Place to our members and <br />supporters and offered a convenient means for interested parties to donate <br />to them. In addition, we made a small donation of our own from ticket sales. <br />Hiring professional musicians as soloists and supporting musicians is <br />critical to our ability to provide the best musical experience at the highest <br />quality we can for our audience, thus advancing our organization’s goals. <br />This organizational grant would assist us greatly in having adequate funding <br />to hire more artists based on what is best artistically, without having to <br />compromise for financial considerations, so we can support our local <br />musicians and bring our performances most fully to life. <br />Docusign Envelope ID: 07544190-1278-4B7D-88D0-425195859546