Make.Shift and Whatcom All-ages Arts and Music (WhAAM) Surpass Fundraising Goal

More than $12,000 was raised to help the organizations renovate their new, shared space at 111 Unity Street, in addition to supporting current programming. They currently seek construction materials before opening the venue’s doors.

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Make.Shift's biodiesel "Magic Van" takes bands on tour around The Northwest. This is just one of the projects that will be funded.

The outpouring of community support for this project has been unbelievable. We've received support across the board from local business owners, students, blue collar dads, you name it.

Bellingham, WA (PRWEB) January 21, 2011

Local music-oriented nonprofits Make.Shift and WhAAM (Whatcom All-Ages Arts and Music) are thrilled to announce that their recent Kickstarter campaign raised more than $12,000. The funding will help the organizations renovate their new, shared space at 111 Unity Street, in addition to supporting current programming. The groups aim to create an all-ages arts and music hub in easily-accessible downtown Bellingham.

Plans for the new space include all-ages concert space, affordable band practice space, resource library, screen printing studio and more.

The online fundraiser, which closed Jan. 15, surpassed the groups' initial goal of $8,500 by more than 40 percent, and received broad support from the community, with 150 backers. The vast majority of donations were under $50.

"The outpouring of community support for this project has been unbelievable," said Make.Shift Director Cat Sieh. "We've received support across the board from local business owners, students, blue collar dads, you name it."

Make.Shift and WhAAM would also like to thank Saturna Capital and its employees Ryan Rickerts and Jacob Stewart for their substantial year-end donations to the project, totaling $4,500.

"People have really come out of the woodwork to show that they support a healthy, safe space for all ages music in Bellingham," said WhAAM President Amanda Kalkwarf. "We're eager to get moving and make this space a reality."

Opening day for the space depends on several factors, including gathering the necessary materials for renovations. "The battle's not over yet," Sieh said. "We're still seeking tax-deductible in-kind donations of construction materials and other necessities.”

Here's a basic list of needed materials:

100 10-foot 2×6’s
12 sheets of OSB
Plenty of R-19 insulation
6 sheets 12-foot extruded metal roofing (any color)
New or used bathroom stalls/doors. (2 standard, 2 wheelchair accessible.
4 new toilets (Available at Hardware Sales: Toto brand “Eco Promenade” model preferred, model no: CST424EF#01)
30 sheets of 5/8ths sheetrock

*Two push-bar, ADA-compliant fire doors
*40 gallons un-tinted flat interior paint
*Cigarette receptacle (pole or wall mounted)
*Outdoor flood lights (2) or other similar outdoor lights
*Paint rollers/ brushes
*Painter’s plastic

Make.Shift and WhAAM have partnered with the ReStore to acquire as many used, re-purposed or recycled materials possible. They still need help from donors to fill in the blanks.

To make a materials donation, visit Bellingham's Hardware Sales and ask for the WhAAM/Make.Shift materials registry, or just purchase an item and leave it for WhAAM or Make.Shift at Will-Call. Questions can be directed to (510) 499-0535 or info(at)makeshiftproject(dot)com.

About Make.Shift:
Make.Shift supports independent musicians through environmentally conscious programs.

About WhAAM:
Whatcom All-Ages Arts and Music is committed to providing a safe, drug and alcohol free, all-ages space for Whatcom County youth to see live music.

Press Contacts:

Cat Sieh
Make.Shift Driector
Cell: (510) 499-0535
info(at)makeshiftproject(dot)com
http://www.makeshiftproject.com

Aaron Apple
WhAAM PR Manager
Cell: (360) 540-0831
pr(at)whaam(dot)org
http://www.whaam.org

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