Local parents help Sisters schools

The Sisters Starry Nights Concert Series thrives off the support of its sponsors. Many of those sponsors are giving a hand to their kids' hometown schools.

According to Sisters School District Superintendent Steve Swisher, Sisters Starry Nights and the Sisters Schools Foundation were created in 1996 in response to the district's financial challenges.

"Budget cuts over time threatened (our) arts and music programs," Swisher said. "(series chair) Jeri (Fouts) and (high school principal) Dennis Dempsey were talking about fundraising in the spring of 1996. Jeri came forward and offered her donated services to benefit the foundation, and Starry Nights became the cornerstone of Foundation fundraising."

Fouts has over 10 years of special event coordination experience.

Since having children, she coordinates fewer projects professionally but volunteers for this event.

"It's a wonderful way to be a part of the community and support the kids," Fouts said.

Fouts' seven-year-old, Ryan, currently attends Sisters Elementary School. Three-year-old Shannon will soon enter kindergarten, and her two oldest, Nick, 20, and Suzie, 18, have graduated from Sisters High School.

Starry Nights Co-chair Susan Arends worked hand-in-hand with Fouts to coordinate event logistics.

"I want to help the schools that my children attend," Arends said.

Co-owner of Desert Wings Travel in Sisters, Arends has two boys, Marcus and Thomas, in Sisters Elementary School.

Tony Meyer came to Sisters in the early 1980s and started a small business. X-Press Printing is now a Sisters icon and Sisters Starry Nights sponsor.

"I sponsor the series as gratitude to the community for (the) success (of my business)," Meyer said. "It's a contribution to youth and the arts and is good investment and payback for the future."

Meyer's three children all attend Sisters Schools. Joel, 13, is in Sisters Middle School, and Emery, 7, and Elle, 6, attend Sisters Elementary.

Ed Fitzjarrel moved his business, and his family, to Sisters in 1994. His manufacturing firm, Metabolic Maintenance, also sponsors Sisters Starry Nights.

"I love music and it's for a good cause it's a top-drawer event."

Fitzjarrel's 12-year-old, Kelly, attends Sisters Middle School in the sixth grade.

Many other parents have supported Sisters Starry Nights and other projects, including the elementary school classroom raising, as have a variety of companies and individuals with a less direct stake in local education.

At the March 14 Sisters Starry Nights concert, Sisters Schools Foundation chairman Rod Morris thanked all these community activists for their efforts.

"Without your support," he said, "none of this would come together."