Packed with an enthusiastic crowd, the Santa Ynez High School Theater rocked and rumbled to the sounds and steps of students who sang and danced the evening away in support of Provide Hope.
Provide Hope is a local student-run organization that is sending three graduating seniors to Calcutta, India, this summer to teach at the Piyali Learning Centre. The school was founded by Solvang resident Deepa Willingham and serves 175 girls from the improvised neighborhood. There are 250 on the waiting list.
Charlie Uhrig and his band, Cody and the Sheriff, were one of many who performed April 15, but before they did, Uhrig presented Josh Yamasaki, Connor Reck and Cat Truax with a check from the Salvation Army. As the Youth Volunteer of the Year, the teary-eyed Uhrig also was able to present the three India-bound students with a check from the Santa Ynez Valley Youth Recreation.
Among the other performers were Carson Rick, Chelsea Chaput, Morghan Laughlin, Willy Mann, Bear Redell, Scottie Bautista, Tivoli Evans, Alif Marchi, Jacob Hallerman and several girls from the Los Olivos Dance Gallery who performed two pieces. The Santa Ynez teens are further being helped by the SYHS Interact club.
The organizations next fundraiser is from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, May 1, at TLC Consignment in Solvang.
The company will host a bake sale and a portion of all sales on that day will go to the organization. Some special-purchase items will also be available, for which all proceeds will benefit Provide Hope.
Donations of funds, new or slightly used clothes and soft-back easy readers to be brought to India can be dropped off at TLC, located at 435 2nd Street, Solvang.
High on the wish list is assistance with the paperwork to become a 501(c) (3) organization.
It is so much more than just helping the kids there, it teaches us so many valuable lessons, too, said Truax, who plans to continue the mission of sending American students to help their peers in third-world countries.
For more information, call 688-6156.
Staff Report