<a href="http://www.sugarbush.com/about-vermont-resort/president-blog">Via the Sugarbush Blog</a>. All monies raised will go to the <a href="http://mrvcommunityfund.org/">Mad River Valley Community Fund</a>. If you'd like to make a donation to the fund you can use Paypal on the site.

<blockquote>Monday, September 12th from Warren, VT
Grace Potter - An intimate solo acoustical performance

I continue to be amazed at the efforts our neighbors in Vermont are making in cleaning-up after Irene. In only two weeks, you can see businesses and residents getting back on their feet and things returning to normal. But don't let that fool you. Impacts of the flood will be felt by many people for years to come, and there is still a lot to do.

The Mad River Valley Community Fund has already disbursed money to those who suffered losses in the storm, and they will be making more interest-free loans and grants in the weeks and months ahead. A few hundred thousand dollars has been raised for the fund so far, but much more will be needed.

Grace Potter has caringly agreed to donate her time for a special brunch concert on Monday, October 10th. This will be "an intimate solo acoustical performance" in the Gate House and limited to a couple hundred people. Through this concert we are hoping to raise $250,000 for the Mad River Valley Community Fund. Tickets will be priced at $1,000 and we are actively seeking sponsorships of up to $25,000 for a table of ten.

Most people know Grace. She was born in the Valley and is the daughter of two very talented parents, Sparky and Peggy. Sparky has designed and produced many of the signs around Sugarbush Resort and also painted murals on the first floor of The Schoolhouse. Peggy's beautiful wooden bowls, which have been sold for years at the Farmer's Market, are probably on many of your tables. If you haven't heard Grace, you have been missing something. She is truly a talented artist. With her band, the Nocturnals, she has become an important player in the world of music. Last year, their album peaked at #5 on iTunes Top 100. Additional information on the Grace Potter concert will be available on our website shortly, but if you want to reserve a spot for this special event please email me directly. I promise that you will thoroughly enjoy the event while contributing to a charity that is helping our neighbors right here in the Valley get back on their feet as quickly as possible. </blockquote>

My thoughts . . . . yes the price is STEEP and out of range for everyone in my own socio-economic stratosphere. That said, I think it's a fantastic event and I wish them all the best on the fundraising efforts. The goal of any fundraising effort is to raise money from those people who can afford to help and who are NOT in the constituency to which the monies will be donated. I abhor school fundraisers where kids sell candy to their own parents so I'm all for this kind of structure. Hopefully GPN may be able to do something communal and affordable for a larger group of people but with their busy schedule maybe not. This seems like a well crafted, targeted effort to make the biggest impact possible in a hard hit area that is very personal to Grace and the Potters. 

I drove through many parts of Southern Vermont just yesterday and the devastation is still difficult to witness.

Best of luck.

