Keeping art and music education alive for the North Shore youth
Friends of Sunset Beach (FOSB), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing art and music education to the North Shore community’s youth, is hosting their ninth annual fundraiser, Celebrating the Arts on Saturday, February 23, 2019 from 5:30 – 10 p.m. at Waimea Valley Pikake Pavilion. Welzie, will be the featured artist at this years event.

Each year, the ticket sales and art auction sales from this event raise money to provide the supplies
and salaries for educated art and music instructors to teach at Sunset Beach Elementary. Funds raised also help fuel community art enrichment programs throughout the year, hosting pop-up art tents at events like the Menehune Surf Contest where children can take part in forms of artistic expression for free.

This 2018-2019 school year, FOSB has been able to fund full-time art and music instruction, as well as supplies, for the K-6 students at Sunset Beach Elementary. Art teachers Lilly Barels and Steven Kean and music teacher Tiara Hernandez are now teaching daily—neither art nor music education are in the public school’s budget.

“Although art is generally the first course to go in budget cuts, it is often recognized as one of the
most important aspects of a child’s development and is proven to increase attendance, graduation rates, and test scores,” explains FOSB Board Member Suzannah Kennedy. “By participating in the arts, children become more connected to themselves and the world around them and strengthens their bond to their community. Our long-term goal is to support art education at other North Shore schools. Currently, we are adding hours to our art curriculum at Sunset Beach Elementary and will continue to grow the music program. Funds raised will cover this expansion.”

Celebrating the Arts is one of the North Shore’s most magical evenings, with live music, complimentary food from Kenui Kitchen, and silent and live auctions with art from some of Hawaii’s most accomplished professionals. General admission tickets are $60 each, however guests can purchase early bird tickets online before February 10 for only $50. For sponsorship, VIP tables and to purchase tickets, visit:
http://www.friendsofsunsetbeach.org/fundraiser/