2015 Spring Appeal Underway

On Monday March 31, Artistic Director launched the annual fundraising campaign, Spring Appeal.

Tuition and fees do not cover the cost of music lessons and the production of high quality theater. YACM must raise money each year to fund operations for the hundreds of children it benefits.

This year the Spring Appeal addresses the cost and value of conservatory education along with a lingering financial challenge associated with a disruption in YACM revenue caused by action of the Teachers Union (F-SUTA) last year.

YACM was caught in the middle of a dispute between the Fairfield Suisun Unified School District and the Fairfield Suisun Teachers Association while bringing music enrichment classes to hundreds of public school children.

The Teachers Union demanded an immediate adjust to the program that disrupted the lives of enrolled family’s causing them to withdraw mid-year. This created a lingering loss YACM has carried forward from 2014.

Rather than increase the cost of tuition which would result in the exclusion of families who cannot afford to pay more for tuition, Mrs. Cook prefers to rely on the YACM community to pull together to support our children.

YACM leadership working with the YACM board successfully generated additional working capital of $20,000 to support the beginning of this season.

Board member Ivan Jones secured a contribution from his employer, Travis Credit Union, of $5,000 in December 2014. Board member Jason Marcus committed an additional $5,000 in January of 2015.

A third private party contributed a loan of $10,000 to provide sufficient working capital to support our mission.

The financial damage of 2014 has not yet been resolved. Ivan Jones, the YACM Treasurer, estimates we need to generate $5,000/month in additional revenue above and beyond current tuition payments in order to fully recover.

To address the immediate financial challenge we are issuing an appeal to the YACM community to make a special contribution as they did last year in support of the Conservatory.

We are asking families of financial means to make a special, tax deductible donation to the Conservatory. Those ready to make a financial contribution may contact our Director of Development, Kevin Phillips.