Sarasota Opera Sign Up Information

The Sarasota/Manatee area is known across the country for its generous spirit. The Giving Challenge is a prime example of how you are part of a community that is a philanthropic leader, and Sarasota Opera is excited to participate in this year's Challenge scheduled noon to noon on April 28-29!

All non-profits and their constituents have had to face extraordinary challenges during these uncertain and unprecedented times. We have been inspired and heartened by the response of our patrons and supporters. Over the last month, many of you have donated your tickets or made a cash contribution to the Sarasota Opera Relief Fund. Since we were forced to suspend our season on March 13, we have seen an incredible swell of support that has generated more than $200,000 in donations to the Relief Fund.

You can help us go even further toward mitigating the $1 million loss we are anticipating by making a gift to Sarasota Opera through The Giving Challenge. This is an unique opportunity for you to triple the impact of your support. The Patterson Foundation is generously matching all Giving Challenge contributions up to $100. In addition, the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation is generously matching all gifts made for Sarasota Opera. That means that the first $100 of your Giving Challenge gift turns into $300! Any amount over $100 will also be matched by the Toulmin Foundation.

The Giving Challenge is a wonderful way for you to be the one who makes it possible for the joy of music to reverberate through the beautiful Suncoast. Be on the lookout for more information in the days to come on how Sarasota Opera is celebrating your philanthropy.

https://www.givingpartnerchallenge.org/

This message was sent to @ by SARASOTA OPERA 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, FL 34236 Unsubscribe |  Manage Your Subscription

Dear Patrons,

Thank you so much for supporting Sarasota Opera through your ticket purchase, subscription, or contribution. Your participation has made it possible for world-class opera to thrive in Sarasota. For more than 60 years, we have brought our community the joy of music through powerful voices, stunning costumes, evocative sets, and gorgeous music, which would not have been possible without your support. 

During these unprecedented times, that support is needed more than ever. We have been heartened and inspired by the reaction of our audience and donors since making the decision to suspend our season because of the pressing public health crisis. The twelve performances we canceled came at the busiest point of our season, when many opera lovers travel to Sarasota to enjoy Opera Lovers Weekends. Over 250 artists, musicians, crew, and staff were disappointed that they could not share their extraordinary talents with more than 12,000 ticket buyers to those performances.

The world's population has turned to the arts as we sequester ourselves. Sarasota Opera has joined countless others in finding a way to bring art into your home. Patrons who donated their tickets received links to streaming videos of the performances they were not able to see, our artists took to the streets with #SuddenlyOpera performances, and now they've taken #SuddenlyOpera to social media with posts that enable them to share the joy of opera with you.

We were also among the first of many opera companies around the globe to commit to paying our artists through the end of their contracts, and we are providing ticket buyers the option of a refund or credit for the tickets they held to canceled performances. Despite the financial toll, we opted to continue to take care of our Sarasota Opera family.

I am confident that Sarasota Opera will recover from this. To aid in that recovery, we have established the Sarasota Opera Relief Fund and are asking you to consider a special gift by making a direct contribution or by donating your tickets to canceled performances, if you haven't done so already. This will help us get through this trying time, so that when you return to the Opera House, the stellar performances and uplifting experience you are used to will be waiting for you.

All donations to the Sarasota Opera Relief Fund are tax deductible* and donors will enjoy our regular donor benefits next season. If you are a current donor, your extra support will be added to your annual gift and will be recognized accordingly.

Thank you, again, for standing with Sarasota Opera. Please see below how you can contribute to the Sarasota Opera Relief Fund.

Sincerely,

Richard Russell

*The CARES Act, recently passed by Congress, provides a universal deduction for contributions, including ticket donations, made in 2020, of up to $300, even for taxpayers who do not itemize. Additionally, for tax year 2020, Congress has lifted the existing cap on annual contributions for itemizers from 60% to 100% of Adjusted Gross Income (AGI).

HOW TO DONATE:

Click here to make a gift online.

Call Senior Individual Giving Officer Scott Guinn at (941) 366-8450 ext. 416

(Please leave a message if your call is not answered. Scott will return your call shortly.)

Mail your gift to:

Sarasota Opera

Attn: Development Department/Relief

61 N. Pineapple Ave

Sarasota, FL 34236

This message was sent to @ by SARASOTA OPERA 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, FL 34236 Unsubscribe | Manage Your Subscription

In less than a week, YOU can be the one to help bring the power of live performance to our community. For more than 60 years, Sarasota Opera has brought the Suncoast the joy of music through powerful voices, stunning costumes, evocative sets, and the glorious sounds of great opera.

Your gift for Sarasota Opera through The Giving Challenge will help us mitigate the anticipated $1 million loss we will incur due to the early closing of our season. Your gift can also have TRIPLE the impact! The Patterson Foundation is matching all Giving Challenge contributions up to $100. In addition, the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation is generously matching ALL gifts. That means that the first $100 of your Giving Challenge gift turns into $300! Any amount over $100 will also be matched by the Toulmin Foundation.

https://www.givingpartnerchallenge.org/

This message was sent to @ by SARASOTA OPERA 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, FL 34236 Unsubscribe |  Manage Your Subscription

Tuesday is the day! Starting at noon on Tuesday, April 28, Giving Challenge 2020 will begin and is your opportunity to support Sarasota Opera's Relief Fund with a gift of $25, $50, $100, or more. This is a special year for us as this Giving Challenge will help us mitigate the anticipated $1 million loss we will incur due to the early closing of our season. Your gift will also have triple the impact! The Patterson Foundation is generously matching all Giving Challenge contributions up to $100. In addition, The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation is providing an additional match for all gifts. That means that the first $100 of your Giving Challenge gift turns into $300! Any amount over $100 will also be matched by the Toulmin Foundation.

Additionally, we will host mini-challenges to increase the impact of your gift, and in some cases, provide an additional match! Below are the different opportunities throughout the 24-hours of the Giving Challenge when you can increase your impact. But remember, a gift at any time will go a long way! Click here to visit our Giving Challenge donation page, and thank you for supporting Sarasota Opera through the Giving Challenge!  

• April 28, Noon - 1:00pm | The DiGirolamo Challenge
  Sarasota Opera Board Chair Syble DiGirolamo will donate $1,000 if we get 50 donors in this first hour.
  
  
• April 28, 3:00pm - 5:00pm | The Archbold Challenge
  Ron Archbold and his wife Barbara will each give $1,000 if 35 donors give between 3pm and 5pm April 28.
   
  
  
• April 28, 7:00pm - 8:00pm | The Tompkins Mini-Match
  Bill Tompkins and wife Rebecca will match all donations up to $1,000 from 7pm to 8pm April 28. Triple match!
  
  
• April 29, 8:00am - 9:00am | The Siciliano/Blanchard Mini-Match Another triple match! Arthur Siciliano and wife B. Aline Blanchard are matching all donations from 8am to 9am on April 29, up to $1,000.
  
  
• April 29, 10:00am - 11:00am | The Benoit/Brooks Challenge 
  Between 10am and 11am April 29, Katherine Benoit and John Brooks will give $1,000 if 25 donors give during this hour.
  
  
• April 29, 11:00am - Noon | The Bagby Challenge, in honor of Betsy Bagby and Lee Chaverin-White 
  25 donors in this final hour will help us finish strong and will trigger a $1,000 gift from Sumner and Irene Bagby.

For all of the details please take a moment to head over to our Giving Challenge Profile and see the different mini-challenges you can participate in throughout the 24 hours.

https://www.givingpartnerchallenge.org/

The 2020 Giving Challenge is presented by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County with giving strengthened by The Patterson Foundation.

This message was sent to @ by SARASOTA OPERA 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, FL 34236 Unsubscribe | Manage Your Subscription

Ron Archbold and his wife Barbara will each give $1,000 if 35 donors give between 3pm and 5pm April 28.

As of 6:45am our Giving Challenge campaign has raised just under $55,000 in individual donations from 396 donors, plus $42,000 in matching funds from the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. We have also raised more than $32,000 in matching funds from The Patterson Foundation.

That is a grand total of approximately $105,000 for Sarasota Opera's Relief Fund! An opera sized THANK YOU to the superstars who have given so far!! We are all overwhelmed by your generosity.

If you haven't given your gift yet, it's not too late, and we still need your support! Help us finish strong by supporting Sarasota Opera's Relief Fund with a gift of $25, $50, $100, or more. This is a special year for us as this Giving Challenge will help us mitigate the anticipated $1 million loss we will incur due to the early closing of our season. Your gift will also have triple the impact! The Patterson Foundation is generously matching all Giving Challenge contributions up to $100. 

Additionally, we are hosting mini-challenges throughout the day to increase the impact of your gift, and in some cases, provide an additional match! Below are the different opportunities throughout the 24-hours of the Giving Challenge when you can increase your impact. But remember, a gift at any time will go a long way! Click here to visit our Giving Challenge donation page, and thank you for supporting Sarasota Opera through the Giving Challenge!  

• April 29, 8:00am - 9:00am | The Siciliano/Blanchard Mini-Match
  Triple match! Arthur Siciliano and wife B. Aline Blanchard are matching all donations from 8am to 9am on April 29, up to $1,000.

• April 29, 10:00am - 11:00am | The Benoit/Brooks Challenge
  Between 10am and 11am April 29, Katherine Benoit and John Brooks will give $1,000 if 25 donors give during this hour.

• April 29, 11:00am - Noon | The Bagby Challenge, in honor of Betsy Bagby and Lee Chaverin-White 
  25 donors in this final hour will help us finish strong and will trigger a $1,000 gift from Sumner and Irene Bagby.

https://www.givingpartnerchallenge.org/
 

The 2020 Giving Challenge is presented by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County with giving strengthened by The Patterson Foundation.

This message was sent to @ by SARASOTA OPERA 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, FL 34236 Unsubscribe  | Manage Your Subscription