A New Goal To Meet An Unprecedented Challenge

Over the last month, the Bluecoats Community has demonstrated a level of support unmatched in our history. Hundreds of donations have been made, The Shield has the largest number of Sustaining Members in its history, and our ticket buyers, students, and other customers have donated thousands of dollars in purchases back to us. All of this support is an amazing unified effort to ensure that the cancellation of our 2020 season does not mean the cancellation of our mission and the end of our nearly 50 year legacy.

Whether you’ve made a donation, joined The Shield, or written to us, we are so grateful for this outpouring of support!

Now, as the world begins to shift its focus toward the “new normal,” we are examining our future, too. We’ve begun work with our fellow drum corps exploring what may be in store for 2021 and we’re working hard to keep the Bluecoats Experience alive for our 2020 participants. Now, we’ve set a fundraising goal that will meet our needs for financial survival.

Today we’re announcing a 2020 fundraising goal of $350,000. This funding is necessary to fulfill our refund obligations and keep the Bluecoats organization alive and operating. We stand firmly behind our mission to provide life-changing performing arts programming, and our amazing team members are pouring their lives into this challenge.

$150,233 of $350,000 RAISED

Fortunately, we already have a great start on our journey toward achieve this goal! Since the start of our fundraising efforts, we have raised more than $150,000 in gifts and pledges. So, with roughly $200,000 to go - will you help us reach our goal?

In the coming months we are planning all sorts of ways for our community to engage with us. After all, we’re used to interacting with each other during the “drum corps” season, so why should this summer be any different? Our socially-distant summer programming will be focused on continuing the Bluecoats Experience, engaging with our fans and supporters, bringing the Bluecoats mission online, and raising the money we need to protect our future.

Every dollar raised, whether at bluecoats.com/give, on Facebook, or through a monthly Sustaining Membership in The Shield, will help us achieve our goal and keep the lights on at Bluecoats.

We are so grateful for the support shown by our community these last several weeks. We are thinking of you and your families during this time of immense struggle and we’re especially grateful that you’ve thought of us in a time of great struggle.

Together, we will #MarchOn.