GALA FUNDRAISER COLLECTS $160,000 FOR CENTER’S NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED EDUCATION THROUGH THE ARTS PROGRAM

Santa Rosa, Ca. (November 8, 2007)  – In an evening of sweet decadence and delight, three-hundred of Sonoma County’s leading business owners, arts lovers, and philanthropists donated nearly $160,000 in support of the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts’ Education Through the Arts program. The hugely successful fundraising event, called the Art of Dessert, was held Saturday, October 27th at Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, and was attended by representatives from many of Sonoma County’s most notable businesses, members of the Arts Center’s Board of Directors, and leading Arts Center supporters Gayle and Arnie Carston, among many others. The event was held in honor of the Carston’s, who were named “Arts Benefactors of the Year” for their outstanding philanthropic generosity to the Center over the past 20 years.

The Art of Dessert, now in its fifth year, featured an elegant sit-down dinner, more than 40 decadent desserts, live and silent auctions, and an outstanding performance by the Montgomery High School Chamber Choir. Proceeds will benefit the Center’s Education Through the Arts program, which consists of School Shows for kindergarten through high school students, Artists in the Schools mini-residencies, Music For Schools instrument lending library, Professional Development classes for teachers, Bus Fund for student transportation, and ArtReach free and reduced price tickets. The program, which serves more than 25,000 students, parents, and teachers annually, has received recognition from many esteemed organizations, including the Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington D. C., The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the James Irvine Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and Community Foundation Sonoma County.

“Our Education Through the Arts program represents the heart of our mission,” says Richard Nowlin, Wells Fargo Center for the Arts Executive Director. “We are grateful to our community for their incredible support at the Art of Dessert fundraiser, and of course for their support throughout the year. Because of this support, children can experience live performance – often for the very first time; students from low income families are provided with instruments so they can learn to play music; and teachers discover new methods to incorporate the arts into their classrooms as a dynamic tool for teaching. With these programs we provide the rich educational benefits of the arts – to broaden thinking, inspire creativity, and help students excel in all subjects.”

Honored at the Art of Dessert fundraiser were Arts Benefactors of the Year, Gayle and Arnie Carston. The Carston’s have been among the Arts Center’s most generous and ardent supporters. The couple met at the Arts Center during the 1980s. Gayle’s mother, the Center’s first female Chair of the Board  Rochelle Fostmeier, introduced the couple. Through the years, both Gayle and Arnie have also served on the Arts Center’s voluntary board of directors, with Gayle serving as its Chair for two years as well as hosting many fundraising events. In 2003, thanks to a generous gift from the Carston’s, the Arts Center was able to remodel an under-used side chapel into a stunning new theater – the Carston Cabaret.  This gorgeous venue now hosts renowned performances, intimate gatherings, and unique educational experiences for children and adults.

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The non-profit Wells Fargo Center for the Arts is the North Bay's premier arts organization presenting world-class performances, contemporary sculpture, festivals, and events to 500,000 residents and visitors each year. Together with its resident companies, Wells Fargo Center for the Arts provides more than 100 annual performances, serves to present intriguing contemporary art, and is one of California's largest providers of arts education programs for children. Located in the heart of the Wine Country, Wells Fargo Center for the Arts campus features spacious auditoriums, an intimate cabaret, and outdoor festival grounds with a big-top tent. Unlike many similar organizations, Wells Fargo Center for the Arts is not aligned with any federal, state, or municipal entity-such as a city or university. The Center was created by and is supported by the community it serves, making it uniquely positioned as an independent, entrepreneurial-focused, non-profit arts organization. We serve to Enrich, Educate and Entertain - Connecting Our Community through the Arts.