FOMC Outreach Program

"I feel so lucky that I am able to enjoy a variety of programs that I would not be able to afford. I look forward to an evening out. A bit of culture rounds out my life. This is a wonderful program and I am thankful someone is thinking of others."
- Barb DeVaut, YOlder Adults

"I was a recipient of a ticket to last night’s Marin Symphony concert. It was an outstanding concert which I thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you so much for enabling me to have this opportunity to enjoy wonderful music first hand."
- Roberta Detz, YMCA

"Bennett House residents had a great time at the Golden Gate Opera and the Symphony last Tuesday. Pianist Weiss was truly fabulous and the seats were so close we really had great viewing and hearing his playing. Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
- Anya Maruscha, Bennet House

"Thank you SO much for providing our organization with the tickets for last night's symphony performance…. It was a smashing success! I have heard back from the parents of our singers who attended with our chorus director, and the children loved the performance!...We are hoping to continue encouraging our young singers to attend quality performance events provided by the Marin Center!"
Lisa Doering, Administrator
Marin Children's Chorus

“I wanted to thank you so much for the opportunity you provided to myself and four young men from the The Cedars of Marin - 60 Circle Group Home to attend the Marin Symphony performance on Tuesday, November 6th, 2007.
The setting was beautiful, and the minute the conductor walked onto the stage I could see the excitement in the faces of these men. They leaned forward in their seats and as the first note was struck there were smiles all around.
“Their favorite part was when Elizabeth Pitcairn came out on stage looking royal and beautiful in her bright red dress, and began playing her violin.
We were in awe! One young man whispered in my ear "her violin is shining like gold". Later that evening we talked about "The Red Violin" story
and that her "Stradivari" violin was so rare and special that it was like gold.
“The performance was full of energy, and left us all with a desire to listen to more classical music, which one gentlemen said was "very calming".
We will be checking out the music stores for CD's of Beethoven, Mendelssohn,and Brahms, the composers we listened to that evening.
“We are all so grateful to you for providing opportunities for us to attend the wonderful and diverse performances at the Marin Center. Thank you again for your generosity.”
Kate Pokas, House Manager
Novato Boulevard Group Home
The Cedars of Marin

“The residents who went to the Marin Symphony performance loved it and had a great time! It means so much to them to be able to see such cultural events! We appreciate you making this possible for us.”
Cris Ascierto
De Anza House

"Much appreciation for making the Symphony accessible to all! Getting seats in neat groups was no easy task ---- but pulled off with last minute grace.Donated tickets from Friends of the Center made it possible for all to attend."
Also: "The [residents of our] 2nd Street house went to the Center's Ballet Flamenco and are still talking about the show."
Denise Bondy
The Cedars of Marin

"...Our seniors truly appreciate your outreach to them. One senior told me last week that the show "Frogz" uplifted her very much from a bout of depression... Thank you so much."
Novato Independent Elders Program/
Alma Latina Seniors

"Those of us here at Center Point that had the opportunity to see the Symphony would sincerely like to thank you. For most of us it was a first time experience that we will remember the rest of our lives. We thank you for your generosity and the cultural experience that we were allowed to share with each other through your donation."

"Thank you for the wonderful work you do --- you are indeed a Valentine to so many in Marin County."
The Center for Attitudinal Healing

"I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for the tickets you have provided. I’ve always have enjoyed going out but since I’m now on a fixed income the tickets are out of my reach – until now. Going out with friends and socializing is a very civilized way to pass the time. Again thank you!"
Patricia Nordin, client of
Alma Latina Services/Terra Linda Seniors

"The choir was wonderful. Thank you for the beautiful evening and wonderful opportunity! We really had a great time. From all of us at Euclid …thank you!"
Euclid Residence
of the San Francisco Boys & Girls Home

"Outings such as the Marin County Fair are wonderful opportunites for the women and children [at our shelter] to purely have fun, which can be vital to their emotional growth and development."
Donna Garske, Executive Director
Marin Abused Women's Services

"Thank you for helping us fulfill our mission to enrich the lives of children and the community through one-to-one mentoring relationships."
Heidi Pidcoke, Associate Executive Director
Big Brothers Big Sisters
of Marin and Napa Counties

“Providing these tickets will give a sense of hope and opportunity to these most vulnerable families to share an inspiring musical together, while in the process of reconnecting with each other and their community."
Zara Babitzke, Resource Developer
Matrix Parent Network

“I wanted to express the heartfelt gratitude of the Tam Creek Seniors for the comp tickets for Ladysmith Black Mambazo. They were transfixed by the singing and dancing. No one seemed tired when we got back at 11:00 pm, although a few people were sleepy at Senior Stretch the next day. One resident gave me the best smile I’ve ever seen on her face when she talked about the concert."
Anita, Tam Creek Seniors

“..sincere thanks to you for your generous donation of tickets…We are only able to continue to provide the opportunity to teach our residents to re-enter society as productive citizens because of the help of friends like you. There is no way we can adequately explain how much your support means to us.”
Roxanne Dracopoulos
Delancey Street Foundation

"Lifehouse has always stressed the importance of providing recreational and educational opportunities for the clients we serve, and the Friends of Marin Center make this possible. "
Nancy Riess, Development Associate
Lifehouse

"We appreciate the opportunity FOMC has made available to our families. Theatre, comedy dance etc. is a joy that is often unavailable our clients."
Family Service Agency

“…it has been fantastic for my students to attend the often brilliant dance concerts at the Civic Center.Many students have never seen the likes of any of this art/dance. I thank you for the opportunities you have offered.”
Julie Kane, Marin Academy

“Thank you for your program. The group ISOJI from Marin City is a newcomer to your generosity. The group I tutor in connection with ISOJI had never been at the Center prior to our attending last year. We received tickets to Madama Butterfly and though we had difficulty reading the opera translation, the kids were mesmerized by the stage presentation.”
Barbara Sykes, ISOJI Marin City Coalition

"Just want to let you know how much my dance students enjoyed seeing Tango Fire! Thank you for that opportunity. They are 'fired' up now! Thank you greatly!"
Kris Van Treese,
Napa High Dance Department

“The residents who get the free tickets are coming in days after the concert to thank me (and you) for the lasting memory. They are in awe about the beauty of the music. Thank you soooo much to make this possible.”
Bea Lott
The Redwoods

ESL Class - Maria Freitas Senior Center

“Every time I receive FOMC Outreach tickets to Marin Center performances, there is great excitement and anticipation in the class. And after every performance they talk about it for days afterwards. Here are some of the things the members of my class told Jayle Hale when she came to visit us:
‘Coming from Moscow and St. Petersberg, we grew up appreciating great music and culture, but because of the programmed narrow offerings of the Soviet Union, only now are we truly enjoying a full range of amazing performances from all over the world.’
‘Attending the events is important for us in order to socialize with Americans. It helps our English skills.’
‘FOMC’s free tickets are an example of the American experience, a generous people share a wealth of diverse cultural experiences.’
‘We appreciate how close Marin Center is. It would be impossible for us to go into San Francisco for the symphony. But we feel as if we are living in near a great cultural center.’
‘It is the center of our lives.’”

Vicky Chuck, teacher
ESL Class for Russian-American seniors meeting at Maria Freitas Senior Center

"Almost all of our low vision and blind members are seniors, many with limited income. There are a limited number of activities that those without sight can enjoy, and so we are very grateful for Marin Center Performances. Even our blind members enjoy the music, dialogue, stories, atmosphere and excitement of these events. And because the performances are centrally located, its easier for our members to attend, since they cannot drive or take standard public transportation and must depend on friends, family and others to drive them. The addition this year of Marin Center tickets to our program has been very successful, welcome, and appreciated."
Pat Merrill, Executive Director
Blind & Vision Impaired of Marin, Inc.

”Friends of the Marin Center have exposed dozens and dozens of these girls to a wide variety of cultural events. They have come away from these performances amazed and ecstatic. Due to budget limitations purchasing tickets to events of this caliber would not be possible. Without the Friends of the Marin Center and their sponsors our girls would not have had these wonderful experiences. I am extremely grateful for this program.”
Sherry Hull, San Francisco Girls’ Home

“By making many of these performances available to our residents, they are able to venture out and improve the quality of their lives by coming into contact with the arts. The benefits are numerous but as one resident mentioned to me, “I can still hear that beautiful music and it just makes me smile.”
Karen Nunn, M.S.W.,
Parnow Friendship House

"With this thank-you note come 21 big hugs: one from each of the 20 recipients of the tickets and one from me. We deeply appreciate your reaching out to our seniors and helping then enhance their quality of life
through their attendance at Marin Center performances."
Ross Reyes Dizon, Novato Independent Elders Program/Alma Latina

“I received a phone call from one our clients today RAVING about Natalie MacMaster's concert Friday night. I know had they not have been able to see the performance as guests, they would have missed out on a fantastic evening. They were thrilled to attend! I sincerely appreciate the ticket offerings and we look forward to helping our seniors attend future events!”
Cynthia Hammond
West Marin Senior Services

"Last night was wonderful at the Symphony! Thank you for making this happen.There is nothing like watching someone experience the Symphony for the first time..."
Mary Ann Maggiore, President
Five 4 Five

“The symphony concert was truly an amazing musical experience and a great learning opportunity. Friends of Marin Center are providing an excellent opportunity to further the cause of music education. Thank you!”
Gary W. McCoy, Professor of Music
Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary

"Lifehouse is so appreciative of the Friends of Marin Center for donating tickets to our agency. It provides our clients and staff with an opportunity to see so many wonderful performances that they could not otherwise afford to attend. And, it's so convenient! Thanks also to Jayle for organizing and keeping track of the offerings. It's truly a great community service."
Nancy Riess, Development Associates
Lifehouse

"Thank you for the many tickets to the Golden Gate Opera and to Symphony. Our Russian-speaking seniors were delighted to have had the opportunity to go to these musical per-formances. They deeply appreciate your outreach to them through us."
Ross Reyes Dizon, Whistlestop

"The Bennett House residents raved about last evening's [Marin Symphony] performance! I am so happy to be part of this great generous circle of love and life providing low-income seniors free tickets to "GREAT" performances."
Anya Maruscha
Bennett House-Mercy Housing, Inc.

Calen Chapman, Fran Cohen, Ann Keaton and Joey “Parnow House is a part of the affordable housing program for seniors, so its residents are on fixed incomes, and their limited budgets don’t stretch to include live performances. So they really appreciate the Outreach Program’s offerings of free tickets.
On a recent visit from FOMC Executive Director Jayle Hale, resident Fran Cohen, 93, told her, ‘I’ve really enoyed every single event I’ve attended at Marin Center. It’s opened doors for all of us here. It gives me a lot of mental stimulation.I feel young again!’""

Calen Chapman, services coordinator
Parnow Friendship House