SFF wraps up Winter JAM fundraiser

The Sisters Folk Festival Winter JAM (Journey/Adventure/Music) Auction and Fundraiser wrapped up last Saturday with a raffle for an Ed Gerhard Signature model Breedlove guitar and an M. David mandolin. David Cautley was the lucky winner of the guitar, and Bonita Whitler took home the hand-crafted mandolin.

The nonprofit cultural organization raised more than $27,000 for critical mission support in a year in which more than 80 percent of its program revenue has been curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are so grateful for the level of support received from Central Oregon and beyond,” said SFF Executive Director Crista Munro. “This has been a rough year for so many and we are humbled by the outpouring of donations and encouragement from our community. We can’t wait until we can come together in celebration of live music once again and we urge everyone to stay safe and follow health guidelines now that there’s light at the end of this long, dark tunnel.”

SFF’s Winter JAM Fundraiser, presented by ReMax Key Properties, featured a free livestream celebration on Friday, December 4, with support from the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce. The production was the third livestream by SFF and was produced in partnership with local businesses Alpine Internet and Grange Recorders. It featured performances from artists who were slated to play the Close to Home 2 concert in September, including Le Vent Du Nord, Judith Hill, Thunderstorm Artis, John Craigie, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Kristen Grainger & True North, Jenner Fox and The Parnells.

Supporters can still view the livestream concert production on the SFF website.

Since the pandemic began in March 2020, the SFF organization has adapted many of its programs and is currently delivering most programming virtually. Over the past few months, SFF successfully produced a socially distant concert, Close to Home, at their new backyard venue, hosted two Creativity Camps for kids, held a virtual Song Academy for Youth for high school students, as well as the inaugural virtual Sisters Songworks retreat, a songwriting retreat for poets and musicians.

“The JAM fundraiser provided the opportunity for us to offer fun, adventure-filled packages and virtual house concerts, as well as tell our story about the ways we have been expanding our educational programs and adapting to a very difficult environment as a nonprofit organization and live event producer,” said SFF Creative Director Brad Tisdel.

Supporters can still join SFF’s annual membership program, Sisters Folk Arts Circle, or make an end-of-year contribution to the nonprofit organization in any amount. For additional information, or to view the livestream, visit www.sistersfolkfestival.org.