The North End Music and Performing Arts Center (NEMPAC) 8th annual Perform-a-thon this past weekend set a fundraising record for the neighborhood’s popular music program.
Held on April 2, NEMPAC’s Perform-a-thon broke all prior records and raised a grand total of $18,213, making this the most successful Perform-a-thon in NEMPAC’s history so far. Last year the fundraising effort raised approximately $16,000.
“We truly have the best students! So many of them signed up for this peer-two-peer fundraiser, helping us to support other students and their families through our annual Scholarship Fund,†said Allie Meek-Carufel, Educational Programs Director at NEMPAC. “And the biggest thank you goes out to all pledge-makers and our sponsors. Your support makes all this possible.â€
During the 8th Annual Perform-a-thon Saturday, 82 students, groups, and faculty members performed live at 50 Tileston St. or submitted their video performance to be broadcasted live via YouTube. Meek-Carufel said 223 pledges made by donors, raffle proceeds, and sponsorships added up to record breaking fundraising total.
Meek-Carufel said all funds from the Perform-a-thon will directly benefit the NEMPAC Scholarship Fund, which gives thousands of students, performers, and audience members access to quality and affordable arts programming.
NEMPAC’s Perform-a-thon began in June of 2014 as the program’s “Keys for Kids†fundraiser. The first performance included the participation of 35 students performing outside NEMPAC’s Prado Studios as a combined event with the Student Spring Recital.
However, due to the growth of NEMPAC’s programs, the increase in student enrollment and participation, and the support and excitement from friends and families in the North End/Waterfront, Charlestown, and surrounding communities of Boston, it became its own initiative and celebration at the start of spring.
“In order to ensure music is accessible to all, NEMPAC founded the NEMPAC Scholarship Fund—and various other private scholarship funds including the Marshall Fund and d’Amore Fund—to award need-based youth scholarships each year. These students are carefully reviewed by a committee and given awards to pursue artistic studies in private music lessons, summer programs, or an after-school program of their choosing.