- April 20, 2024
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Cheryl Tristam had two hours of peace.
The tireless executive director of the Flagler Youth Orchestra announced at the annual chamber music performance June 2, at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Palm Coast, that the $17,000 fundraising effort had been a success. Earlier that day, a couple of hours before the 5:30 p.m. event, the organization collected the final donation. “We are free and clear,” she said.
“But guess what that means?” she continued with a smile to the audience in the worship hall. “We have to start all over again.”
She thanked the School Board for supporting the organization, which provides free music instruction and performing opportunities to children in Flagler County.
But, she reminded the families that the FYO is unique in this area. She said afterward that she spoke with another family, the Ottatis, who moved away in the past couple of years, and they told her that in their new community, this kind of instruction costs hundreds of dollars per year.
“We need the community behind our efforts,” Tristam said. Two open violin cases were set up in the lobby of the church to collect donations, but anyone can also donate by clicking on the “Support FYO” button at flagleryouthorchestra.org.
“If you donate $150, it puts a violin in a child’s hand,” she said.
