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Friday, April 16, 2010
Desperately Seeking Sponsors
DESPERATELY SEEKING SPONSORS
LUKE 6:38 “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over,
shall they give into your bosom. For with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again!”
This is a philosophy that I
have lived by before I knew it was a scripture. It began with “mud pies”; I would share my
“mud pies” with my girlfriends and my dolls at the age of 4. It was something that was second
nature to me. Yes, I was the one that would give my lunch money away and go hungry throughout the day so
that that hungry boy or girl, who didn’t have lunch money, could eat lunch. As an adult, I even allowed
a “friend” who expressed that she didn’t have clothes for the Winter to go “shopping’ in my
closet (allowing her to take whatever she desired without limitation). I don’t recount these situations
as bragging points; however, I submit it as testament of my passion for victims of domestic violence. I
have sacrificed mortgage and car payments, moved to foreign and faraway places, left family and friends, place my personal
desires on the shelf, so that I could dedicate my life to raise awareness to domestic violence in the church via my stage
play, “A Change Is Gonna Come”. Those who have been with me on this journey since the initial debut
of “A Change Is Gonna Come” in 2007, can testify to the fact that this endeavor has not been easy!
Entire cast have quit, Directors have quit, my name has been slandered, I have been lied on, so-called friends have
turned their backs on me; I could go on and on the trials and tribulations I have experienced. I have been
Director, Producer, Promoter, Set Designer, Wardrobe Designer, Prop Designer, Stage Manager, Casting Director, Caterer, Marketing
Director, Furniture Mover, and Truck Driver, all at the same time, Yet, I persist and endure because I believe in the vision
that God has given me will “make a change! I am also grateful for the remnant, who have endured the journey with me
– they encourage me to stay the course!
Today, as I reflect back on the journey, I am experiencing an emotion that I have never felt
before, frustration! I am finding it difficult to understand how people could donate thousands of dollars
to save the trees during Arbor Day; yet they find it difficult to donate to a cause that will possibly save a life from being
taken at the hands of an abusive husband! Don’t get me wrong, I believe that it is important to save
our natural resources, yet; isn’t it just as important, if not more, to lift our voices in support of those who are
being abused? I am finding it difficult to understand a recent incident when it was announced that some
local libraries may possibly close due to budget cuts, how citizens donated approximately $20,000 in one day to save the libraries
but cannot donate 10% of that to assist 20 performing arts to take a message of “healing” and “restoration”
to the stage of the Kennedy Center! Again, I re-iterate, I am not saying the cause of saving the libraries
is not important, I am an author, so I share in the slogan that “Reading is Fundamental”. However,
causes like “Saving Promise” by L. Y. Marlow, who is trying to initiate legislation to give rights to grandmothers
to obtain custody of their grandchildren who are living in domestically abusive situations are also important, wouldn’t
you agree? The other day, I attended a meeting where a woman confidently reported that their organization
had raised four million dollars for a cause and confidently stated that their goal is ten million! Though
I totally support her cause, I cringed in my seat because in all that I have done since 2006 to promote my cause of domestic
violence in the church, I have not received 1% of that in donations, and yes I have asked! This weekend,
I was at an event to support our cause, where a fishbowl was put out to solicit donations for our cause—though appreciative,
there was not enough in the fishbowl for me to put gas in my car to take me on the other side of town! So
today, I ask myself—when is my “change gonna come”?
Friends, let me say this to you, I am not promoting
this cause for self-gain! Until this date, I have put more into this vision than I received; though rumors
have said differently (smile). In access of personal funds that I receive, I put it back into the cause.
Solicitation is not one of my favorite pastimes; I don’t like to ask money from my friends and loved ones if
I am experiencing a personal crisis because it puts me in a state of dependency! However, for this cause,
I have put my pride under my feet and “beat the bushes”. I have asked people for help that
I would not normally asked, gone to events that I would not normally attend—whatever it takes to “save a life”
and to “deliver someone from the all to unreported incidents of domestic violence in the church—I will do it!
It is like the “kid without lunch money” passion for me!
Now, I am asking you to help us! I
have cast members, staff members, and the likes who have “faithfully” volunteered their time to make our quest
to take this message of redemption to the stage of the “Kennedy Center” in Washington, DC. We
have two casts in Charlotte, NC and Washington, DC, who are working extremely hard to ensure that this mandate come to pass.
It would be sad that due to a “lack of donations” and a “lack of interest”, this endeavor falls
by the wayside! This is a great cause and as the scripture states, it will be returned unto you “good
measures, pressed down, and running over”! If I am addressing those who also have that “give
my lunch money so that others may eat” passion, I need your help! I have connected with a nonprofit
organization, Congressional District Programs so that your donation is now tax-deductible. I have even
made it convenient to donate on my website, www.pals4life.org by clicking the red DONATE NOW! Button! You would then be directed to the “Performing Arts and Literary
Society’s” (P.A.L.S.) Donation Page, on the Congressional District Programs’ website, to
process your donation. If you do not feel comfortable making donations in this manner, we do accept checks
and money orders made out to Performing Arts and Literary Society, mailed to Vickie L. Evans, 8945 Avebury Drive, Unit F,
Charlotte, NC, 28213. If you desire more information or would like to speak to me directly, feel free to
contact me at (800) 903-6171. Thank you for hearing my heart!
Vickie L. Evans
President, (P.A.L.S.)
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