This particular Tuesday comes only once a year. It’s the warm, fuzzy Tuesday that follows Black Friday and Cyber Monday. You guessed it – it’s Giving Tuesday.
We know you are busy. We understand busy. We’ll get right to the point. What you do today can make a difference at ARIEL for an entire year.
When you make a tax-deductible donation to ARIEL through Monterey County Gives!, you will see your support grow with matching funds. Any size donation, up to $75K, will become larger thanks to the magic of MC Gives!
If you are thinking about jumping in for ARIEL this Giving Tuesday, consider the following…
If you’ve ever come to a show at ARIEL and left feeling happier and more hopeful for the future, now is the time.
If you believe teaching kids that incorporating Accountability, Respect, Integrity, Excellence and Leadership into their lives is important, now is the time.
If you think that young people have the power to positively impact the world, now is the time.
If you want to demonstrate your support for the ARIEL mission, our engaging programs, and our family-friendly entertainment, now is the time.
You have until midnight on December 31st, but why wait? It’s Giving Tuesday today. We hope you’ll make it a great one.
Our hearts are beyond full.
We are grateful, honored, and humbled to have received such incredible support in 2024 from so many wonderful individuals, businesses, and foundations. Investments of time, talent and treasure this year have reinforced our efforts as we provided character-building programs and family-friendly entertainment for the entire community. This list will grow as names are added before the clock strikes midnight on December 31st. To add your name to the list donate HERE to our Monterey County Gives! campaign.
Joyfully, we say “thank you” to the following:
DONORS:
Rose & John Aaron
Shay Albarran
Mandy & Ken Allen
Shawn & Nathan Anderson
Jen Anello
Joseph Ashby
Finley Asmuth
Karen Bauer
Sally Bennett
Tiffany Bierbaum
Richard Bishop
Matthew & Jennifer Borba
Mary & Dan Bowman
Janet Bradley
Teri Breschini & Stella Perea
Sonja Brisard
Angelee Brockmeyer
Mandy Brooks
Andrea Brown
Kelli & Chris Brown
Emily Brownfield
Chelsi Bunting
Jim & Lynda Campbell
Hector Cardenas
Jordynne Chacon
Carli & Mike Chasen
Diane Chatwin
Gabriela & Eric Chavez
Michelle Clark
Jay Cohen
Eva Cole
Matthew Conley
Jenny Contenza
Angela Corah
Elizabeth Cotsworth
Catherine Coughlin
Linda Coyne & Bill Deeb
Diane Creasey
Dawn Cricchio
Bruce Crist
Amber Crowe
Ediberto & Olga Cruz Cruz
Jean Cunha
Erica Da Motta
Sarah Dahlen
Rebeca De Dios
Caesar DiFranco
Mike DiFranco
William & Donna Diggons
Patricia Edge
Sarah Elias
Allison Elliott
Jill & Matt Ellis
Chelsea Emrey
Tina England
Dexter Farm
Miguel Felix
Larry Ferrari
David Finkelstein
Shannon Flaherty
Anna Flores
Sandy Fogarty
Philip Fogarty
Anna Foglia
Tom Folliard
Suzanna Forstell
Sheri & Brian Fox
Mary Gale
Carlie Gallegos
Rosalba Garcia
Terry Garibay
Robert B Gaskell Jr
Natalie & Seth Gibson
Jean & Ken Goebel
Jean Goebel
Wendy Grainger
Ben Groves
Barry & Ileen Groves
Tracy Groves-Loetz
Joyce Guerrero
Kyle Guthrie
Chuck Hackett
Amy Hanley
Tamara & Reuben Harris
Wendell Harry
Thomas & Lia Harty
Maile Harty
Andrea & Keith Hayes
Jason & Katie Hayward
Tristyn Hayward
Elliott & Lucie Hazen
Michael Head
Whitney Hegg
Enrique Hernandez
Amanda Hernandez Michalski
Selena & Adam Herrin
Brian Higginbotham
John and Heather Higginbotham
Allison & Lee Hinkle
Elizabeth Hofer
Stephen Hooper
Mimi Hoppas
Christina Hoppner
Clifford Hoskins
Georgia Hughes
Lanney Hulse
Rhonda & Octavio Hurtado
Brandi Irwin
John Ittelson & Bobbi Kamil
Alex & Jesse Jenner
Madeline Jewell
Robert Kasavan
Sharon Kasper
Franscioni Kathy
Cecilia & Jerry Kennedy
Jeanette Kern
Don & Carole King
Rebecca & Douglas Kinyo
David & Heather Kirk
Heather Kleinfeldt
Steve Korsgren & Lauren Karasek
Frank Kragh
Margaret Kylander
Scott Landis & Pippa Browne
Joy Langford
Jim Lash
Daniel Lash
Yvonne Lee Yu
Alan & Maia Liddle
Tasha & Barrett Lindstrom
Guadalupe Lopez
Juan Lopez
Belle Lozada
Hilda Macias
David and Alanna Mack
Bianca Madrid
Mary Magana
James Martin
Cristal Martinez
Ronald & Jane Massott
Patricia Mccabe
Hailey McDill
Harold McDill
Rebecca McDill
Michael & Lisa McGirr
Jeff McGirr
Mary Melland
Lucy Merino
Lucia Merino
Sheryl Merrill
Jill Miller
Joe & Connie Mismas
Maci Mollring
Carolanne Moreno & James Goulart
José Morón
Sarah Mueller
Megan Murphy
William Darius Myers
Virginia Nadler
Larissa Najera Lavering
Tom & Mary Nelson
Kathleen & Robert Nelson
George & Mimi Niesen
Kelly O’Connell
Sandra & Ray Ortega
Raymond Parga
Nick Pasculli
Joe Pavek
Sharilyn Payne
Frank Pinedo
Mary Pommerich
Carmen Ponce
Karen Proctor
Adri Pura
Caroline Reber
Eva Regnier
Meg Reney
Neil Richman
Lillian Rico
Nicole Robinson
Carol Rodrigues
Tori & Nick Rodrigues
Josue Rodriguez
Manette & Steve Rogers
Cecilia & Victor Romero
Lucas Rose
Dolores Rosof
Jennilee Sabado
Gabriel Saldivar
Lorena Sanchez
Peter Schierling
Rose Scholl
Monika & Michael Scott
Ana Seid
Doris Semersky
Victoria Semersky
Carolyn Sharbatly
David Shipley
Bri Slama
Keith Slama
Terry Smith
Diana & Phillip Snell
Kris Sorgatz
Kelly Soriano
Phillip & Evelyn Soriano
Fran Spector Atkins & Roger Stewart
Kimberly & Marty St George
Nancy Stewart
Kyle Stewart
Linda & Robin Stoner
Andrea Strano
Erin Suyehara
Cary Swensen
Carrie & Aaron Tenney
Alisha Thompson
Gary & Linda Thompson
Roger & Linda Thompson
Eder Tostado
Sandra Uecker
Jacqueline Van Nes
Jennifer Walker & Eric Lee
Maureen Wallin
Amanda Wehling
Robert Westlund
Jennifer Williams
Paula Wilson
Christian Womack
Tanya Womack
Kelly & Kevin Young
BUSINESSES & FOUNDATIONS
Aladin Properties
Andrea Brown Literary Agency
Arts Council for Monterey County
Ausonio Family Fund of the CFMC
Bava & Associates PC
Best Shot Video
California Rodeo Salinas
Cardinale Moving & Storage
Community Foundation for Monterey County
Costco
Christopher M. Mulè DDS Inc.
Dataflow Business Systems
Harden Foundation
Hastie Financial Group
Heirloom Pizza
J.V. Smith Companies
John Torquido Photography
Kirk Kennedy
Martinelli’s
Mechanics Bank
Monterey Peninsula Foundation
Monterey Peninsula Quilters Guild
Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation
Oldtown Salinas Foundation
Pebble Beach Company Foundation
Precision Alarms
Rudi Schulte Family Foundation
Salinas Grocery Outlet
Sally Hughes Church Foundation, c/o Ottone & Leach LLP
For nearly four decades, ARIEL Theatrical has provided opportunities for young people to experience the thrill of live performance. Participants discover however, that there is much more to creating magic on stage than memorizing songs and learning lines.
At ARIEL, kids are taught the importance of accountability and respect among cast members. They are also encouraged to give their best efforts and lead with integrity, no matter what role they play in the production. The magic created at ARIEL doesn’t end when the curtain closes. It continues to inspire our young participants as they utilize lessons learned at ARIEL to impact the world in positive ways.
Josephine Swanson, ARIEL participant and Youth Leader, described the powerful influence that ARIEL has had in her life. In her words, “ARIEL has taught me so much, not just about who I am, but who I want to be…..I look forward to being an accountable, respectful, integrity filled, and excellent leader for the rest of my life and showing others how to do the same.”
Please consider supporting our efforts to teach and inspire the leaders of tomorrow by making a donation to ARIEL through the Monterey County Gives! campaign. Online donations are simple, secure, and will be increased with matching funds (up to $75,000) through December 31st.
You can help make ARIEL’s wishes come true and there are several ways of doing so!
Visit ourAmazon Wishlist! – All items will be shipped to ARIEL so we can use them right away!
Donate the Cost of an Item – In our lobby there are yellow stars labeled with an item we need. Simply grab a star and bring it to the box office and donate the cost of the item.We will take care of the ordering making sure to get whatever ARIEL needs most!
Bring in an Item – Have an extra of something? We are more than happy to accept in-person donations. Give us a call at 831-775-0976 to coordinate a drop-off!
ARIEL has been nominated for Best Local Theatre Company in the Monterey County Weekly “Best of Monterey County Finals 2024.” Take a few minutes and vote for your favorite things in the Best of Monterey County Readers’ Poll. We need YOU to vote for ARIEL Theatrical! THANK YOU!!!
Show that you are “TEAM ARIEL” by voting ARIEL Theatrical as the BEST LOCAL THEATRE COMPANY!
We are excited to be “backstage” at the Salinas Rodeo again this year, and we invite you to participate as a Rodeo volunteer representing ARIEL Theatrical as part of our summer fundraiser. This opportunity will put you behind-the-scenes at one of the largest annual events in Monterey County as you work with friends and neighbors setting up and serving in the VIP Hospitality Tent. Volunteers ages 14 and up are welcome.
Fundraising couldn’t be easier! All hours worked by ARIEL volunteers will be tracked to calculate the contribution amount that will be given to ARIEL from the Salinas Rodeo Foundation. This charitable donation could be quite substantial and is only possible with help from our amazing community – you!
There are many shift options including Pre-Rodeo (beginning on July 11), Rodeo (beginning July 18), and Post-Rodeo (beginning on July 21). You are welcome to sign up for multiple shifts, and organizing a group of friends and family to volunteer for the same shift is highly encouraged! All details are listed on the Google sign up form that can be found HERE. Please note shift sign ups are due by July 8, if possible.
We hope you will consider joining this fundraising effort that will directly benefit ARIEL Theatrical programs for youth. If you are unable to volunteer at this time but would like to make a direct donation to ARIEL, please click HERE to access our Zeffy donation page.
We look forward to seeing you at the Rodeo, and at ARIEL!
On Saturday, March 16, a sold-out audience for Disney Frozen Jr. watched with anticipation as we drew a winner for our 2024 Disney Experience Raffle. Congratulations to the big winner, Roberto J. Mora!
A big “THANK YOU” to all who entered for supporting our theatre programs that help young people learn to lead principle-centered lives.
It is with broken hearts that we say farewell to Ileen Groves who passed away on February 7, 2024. Ileen was part of the ARIEL family for more than a decade as an accomplished performer, a generous supporter, and a skilled bookkeeper and financial advisor. Ileen was smart, funny, hard-working, thoughtful and talented. By day, she answered hundreds of financial questions for the ARIEL staff and kept the books balanced and organized. Evenings and Saturdays, Ileen was often found at rehearsal in preparation for an ARIEL production. Whether she was in the ensemble or played a more prominent role, Ileen could always be counted on to bring her best to every performance. Some of her more notable roles were Marilla in Anne of Green Gables, Nina in Schoolhouse Rock Live TOO!, Widow Douglas in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Nana in Tuck Everlasting, Mrs. McCarthy in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Mrs. Whatsit from A Wrinkle in Time, Laundress in A Christmas Carol, and Grandma Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof. Ileen gave the world so much and will be missed by many, including her adoring fans at ARIEL.
For more information about Ileen’s life and legacy, along with details regarding her memorial services, click HERE. In lieu of flowers, Ileen requested that donations be directed to the ARIEL Theatrical Ileen Groves Memorial Fund. Access the fund online HERE or mail checks to ARIEL Theatrical at P.O. Box 1268, Salinas, CA 93902.
A big “THANK YOU” to those in our ARIEL community who contributed through the Monterey County Gives! fundraising campaign. We exceeded our $33,000 goal, raising an impressive $40,814! This total will grow even larger when matching funds, which are currently being calculated by the Community Foundation for Monterey County, are awarded. We are so grateful for the loyal and dedicated support of ARIEL families and other individuals throughout the community who joined this tremendous effort. Each and every dollar raised will support ARIEL programs focused on helping young people learn to lead principle-centered lives. Stay tuned for the updated total and a complete list of our Monterey County Gives! donors.
We are amazed by the quick and generous response of those who answered our call to keep the momentum going for Monterey County Gives! Not only did we hit our December 20th goal of $27,000, we passed it, several days early even! Amazing!!! But why stop there? If you’d like to be entered into the drawing for a pair of Frozen Jr. tickets, your donation of $50 or more received by midnight on December 20th, the original deadline of this benchmark goal, will still be honored. Let’s see how high the total can go! Knowing that we can count on so many of you gives us hope that ARIEL will likely hit our grand total goal of $33,000 before the December 31st deadline. One thing we know for sure, people who love ARIEL know how to make things happen.
Thank you for “making things happen” at ARIEL and reinforcing our efforts to help young people learn to lead principle-centered lives. To make a donation, jump on over to the ARIEL landing page on the Monterey County Gives! site here.
We are excited to be “backstage” at the Salinas Rodeo again this year, and we invite you to participate as a Rodeo volunteer representing ARIEL Theatrical as part of our summer fundraiser. This opportunity will put you behind-the-scenes at one of the largest annual events in Monterey County as you work with friends and neighbors setting up and serving in the VIP Hospitality Tent. Volunteers ages 14 and up are welcome.