Starry Nights Series raises $76,000

The 2005 Sisters Starry Nights Concert Series has exceeded this year’s goal by raising more than $76,000 in net proceeds for the Sisters Schools Foundation, according to a report from event organizers.

This brings the total earned by the series to over $500,000 since its inception in 1997.

“With our new two-show format, we anticipated that we could reach the $70,000 mark this year,” said Starry Nights Co-Chair Susan Arends. “Thanks to the generosity of our artists and supporters, the hard work of our planning committee and volunteers and the success we had in the raffle, silent auction and concessions, we were able to surpass that total.”

The 2005 concert series featured a March 5 performance by John Hiatt and David Jacobs-Strain and an April 2 finale with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and opening act Hanna-McEuen.

“We had a great variety of music this year, even with just the two shows,” said Co-Chair Jeri Fouts. “It was fun to be able to mix in veterans like Hiatt and the Dirt Band with brilliant up-and-coming stars like David Jacobs-Strain and Hanna-McEuen. These young artists really made a big impression with our crowd, and I think we’ll be hearing a lot more from them in the future.”

Arends, who is also chairperson of the Sisters Schools Foundation, says the money raised by Starry Nights come at a critical time for the Sisters public schools.

“Until there is meaningful change in education funding at the state level, these dollars will continue to play a vital role in enhancing the classroom and co-curricular programs at our three schools — programs that are in jeopardy or have already disappeared at many other schools across the state.

“Sisters is a community that makes education a priority, and that is evident in the level of support that is received by the Sisters Schools Foundation,” she said.