Gratitude and holiday fundraiser

Creating art has a way of slowing you down, so you appreciate the beauty, the accomplishment and yes, the struggle too! Art is healing, satisfying and frustrating at times but someone once said that anything worth having is worth working for. This is the same concept as gratitude.  Thanksgiving is hours away and I encourage each of you to really slow down to think about what you are grateful for this year.  No matter what struggles you may be facing, or what opportunities are presenting themselves, you can always find something that you are grateful for.

Gratitude is the single most important practice you can have.  Gratitude keeps you grounded in the moment; it allows you to “stop and smell the roses” but most of all, if you can be grateful for a few things each day, you can change your brain chemistry so that you live longer and are happier!

This year has been such a fantastic hard right turn for me.  I transitioned into this position which was truly the best thing that has ever happened to me professionally.  I got the opportunity to match my business skills and experience with creativity, passion, and my relationship building skills. I found my IKIGAI!

Ikigai is a Japanese word that means “sense of purpose” and “reason for living”. Fallbrook School of the Arts and all that my job entails is my ikigai! How cool is that.  To that end, I want to also list a few things I am grateful for:

• My staff – without these amazing human beings, our programs would not be as fun, educational and collaborative.

• The Board of Directors – these selfless humans work tirelessly behind the scenes making sure our organization has all it needs to not only survive but to thrive and leave a legacy for our community and our region. Without them who knows where we would be today.

• YOU! – Over the past seven months I have gotten to know a lot of you. I have learned why art is such an important part of your lives, and why you keep coming back again and again. Without your continued support, we wouldn’t have a place to create. I appreciate you so much!

  
  

I could go on and on, but I will pause for now. What’s your IKIGAI?  Have you found it yet?  Does it lie in the thing you are too afraid to take a chance on?  When you sit quietly today or this weekend, think about what you are grateful for and what is your purpose, your reason for living?  Thank you for being here and get ready because 2025 is going to be a stellar year! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families.

2024 Holiday Fundraiser

Each year, FSA aims to raise money for something that will not only benefit our organization but will benefit you and our community.  We want this “ask” to be huge and worthy of all of you that help us realize our dreams.  This year we’d like to ask for help raising funds for…drum roll please….

AN OUTDOOR STAGE!

We have plans to create an outdoor environment where we can celebrate with music, dance, open mic events, etc! The stage would be the only outdoor stage in Fallbrook that would be open to the community. We would be able to show

case our fabulous artists, rent the space out for other nonprofit or private groups in the area as well as hold outdoor concerts! Think Summer Concerts in the Park type events where you bring your chairs and picnics, and we provide the entertainment!

All things included, we need $25,000 for an adequate stage with electricity and lighting. Thanks to a generous couple, we already have $6,000. Whatever you can give will help, so, will you help us realize this dream of an outdoor stage?

Sara has created a section on our website where you can give what you can. (We will keep you posted on how much has been raised!) Once we get the stage built, all those of you that contributed will get a special concert to open up our new outdoor event space! Thank you in advance and let’s DO THIS!

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead