1) ASU Fundraiser Held May 13
A group of ASU students is raising money to travel to Uganda in Africa this summer. The trip is a service learning trip through the Social Work Department at Appalachian State University. There will be a fundraiser held at The Rock Sports Bar and Grill on Tuesday, May 13 from 4-9 p.m.
2) Rosen and Schaffel Familes Make $1.2 Million Gift to An Appalachian Summer Festival
A $1.2 million commitment honoring the legacy of Arnold and Muriel Rosen will provide important support for classical music programming at An Appalachian Summer Festival, the annual summer arts celebration presented by Appalachian State University. The Rosen-Schaffel Endowment for Classical Music Programming reflects the Rosens’ lifelong passion for the fine arts and their commitment to supporting arts programming in the communities where they lived and worked. They were instrumental in founding An Appalachian Summer Festival in the early 1980s. The Rosens’ daughter, Nancy Schaffel, and her husband, Neil, created the endowment to continue the family’s legacy of support for the arts. Nancy Schaffel currently serves as chair of An Appalachian Summer Festival’s Advisory Board. In 2011, the Schaffels established a successful annual music competition at the festival, which promotes the careers of young and emerging classical musicians. Throughout their lives, the Rosens’ love of the arts led them to foster the professional careers of young musicians, particularly young American musicians, many of whom have performed at An Appalachian Summer Festival over the years. “The arts were my parents’ passion,” said Nancy Schaffel, “and they believed in establishing programs that perpetuate a lasting engagement with the arts. We are proud to carry forward their commitment with the support of the university, the festival and other arts patrons who share our commitment to fine arts programming.” The Rosen-Schaffel Endowment for Classical Music Programming will underwrite a variety of activities with an emphasis on programming that is not otherwise available in Northwest North Carolina. Traditional classical programming will be supported with the endowment funds, as well as programming that introduces audiences to contemporary work, new work and interdisciplinary work and explores the relationship between classical music and other art forms such as theatre, dance, film and the visual arts. The recent gift is part of the university’s $200 million comprehensive fundraising campaign, the Campaign for Appalachian, launched in October 2011 to improve academics, athletics and the arts for current and future students. For more information about An Appalachian Summer Festival, check online at www.AppSummer.org.
3) High Country Kids Triathlon Held May 24
The High Country Kids Triathlon will be held May 24 at 10 a.m. sponsored by the Watauga Swim Team. The event is open to kids age 5-18 at the Watauga Swim Complex. Awards and refreshments will be given immediately following the race. A helmet is required for the bike portion of the race. The three age divisions are 8 and under, 9-12 and 13-18. To register online, click here.