CAFE Huntington

Project Description:
We are opening a non-profit, fair trade store that will be run completely by volunteers. The fair trade items are exotic and unique and beautiful gifts. These products originate from artisans who are working in developing countries. By paying them a fair wage, they have an opportunity to improve not just their own lives, but also the lives of others in their community through development. The net proceeds from this business are then destined for an orphanage in Nicaragua. This is the blessing of 3 + 1.

Project Importance:
Without a POS system, tracking inventory will be cumbersome, time-consuming, and possibly even at times inaccurate. For the store to succeed, volunteer labor is essential -due to the purpose of our proceeds to the Nicaraguan orphanage. A POS system will not only make sure we are using the monies we have raised efficiently, but also that we maintain accurate inventory and run a better business, not to mention aiding the staff of volunteers in simplifying transactions.

How Money Will Be Used:
To purchase a point-of-sale (POS) system

3 Month Goal:
We hope to open October 13, and the first three months are the most critical of the year. Fourth quarter and holiday shopping are often the “make-it-or-break-it” time in retail. It is essential we hit the ground running and not lose time keying in a multitude of numbers–especially when a computer and bar code scanner cuts that work easily in half.

How I Heard About Cafe Huntington:
A friend from church owns Bottle & Wedge, and he alerted me!

Project Description:
First Stage Theatre Company (FSTC) – Production of Little Mermaid, Jr.

Project Importance:
FSTC serves the community with musical and non-musical quality amateur children’s theater. Your support would allow us to continue to provide an educational, developmental and nurturing atmosphere that promotes self-image and self-esteem for the children that participate in these programs. This is an enrichment program that helps children of any income or background with developing expertise in acting, singing, dancing, lighting and sound, set design, choreography, stage management, stage production, public speaking, writing and other forms of expression in the performing arts.

Without the support of the community, including parents, schools and patrons of the arts such as Cafe Huntington, there is no way that FSTC could continue to provide such experiences for local children.

How Money Will Be Used:
FSTC would use the proceeds towards production expenses of upcoming performances of Fall 2012 show – Little Mermaid, Jr. FSTC is a non-profit children’s theater open to any child 4-17, regardless of family income. By charging nothing to participating children, FSTC covers production expenses solely through grants, charitable donations and ticket sales.

3 Month Goal:
FSTC is currently advancing the production expenses for the Little Mermaid, Jr. After the months of set-building, costuming and practices, the performances will be held in late October at the Renaissance Center in Huntington, West Virginia. There are 50 children cast, many of whom have no prior experience in children’s theater.

Because there is no participation fee to the children (in order to maintain our mission of universal availability), all costs must be recouped by ticket sales and charitable donation. If FSTC receives the Cafe Huntington grant money, such funds will immediately go towards those expenses being currently incurred.

Project Description:
The Huntington Music & Arts Festival will be entering our 3rd year of what has and will become an annual tradition for our city. It is an event that showcases some of the best local and regional artists and musicians from our area. Our inaugural year was a success with well over 300 attendants, and we’re working to increase that number this year. We have 24 musical acts (up from 15 in our inaugural year). The event will take place Saturday, September 29 this year. It will again be an all day event with the gates opening at 11:30 and the first act set to hit the stage at noon. Once the first band begins the only gaps between music will come from the emcee announcing the next act. The festival will conclude at 10pm that evening. Visual artists will have their work displayed to the right of the main entrance inside the festival grounds. We will also have a number of local vendor booths set up around the back wall of the festival so patrons can visit some other types of artisans as well.

Project Importance:
I believe this project is important because we are in the beginning stages of creating an event in Huntington that has the potential to grow into something quite large. It all depends on how the festival is received in it’s founding years to see if we can grow it into the size we see it becoming in the future. That’s why these first few years are crucial and I’m very happy with how they have gone so far. Events such as this one in other cities can draw in 10 to 30,000 people for a weekend. So with continued support we can make Huntington Music & Arts Festival another great staple of Huntington.

How Money Will Be Used:
There are many costs that go into a festival of this size such as rental fees, insurance, Police officers, other security, and sound reinforcement. As well as all the advertising needed to make sure the word gets out including radio, posters, handbills and fliers..etc. This money will also help with providing food, drinks, and t-shirts to bands and volunteers for the festival. As one can see there are many expenses to an event like this so whatever part of the festival the grant would go towards would be greatly helpful.

3 Month Goal:
The grant money will greatly assist the funding aspects of the festival in the final countdown to the date, as well as all post expenses. We are planning on releasing a DVD with different clips of the prior festivals. So this will be an ongoing event after the festival date has passed. Obvious costs are people to do the actual video recording and editing. Then there are the production costs of obtaining the physical copies. We really hope to make the DVD this year to give patrons a great keepsake and to give people who couldn’t make it a way to experience the festival themselves.

Learn more at http://hmafestival.com/blog/