CINCINNATI, OH – The Long Reach Long Riders (LRLR) once again raised funds for Behind the Scenes during the USITT Conference March 19-21. Sales of raffle tickets, some key donations, and BTS and LRLR-branded swag raised just over $14,000 for the charity. Pictured here are LRLR’s Bill Sapsis and USITT president Lea Asbell-Swanger.
More details from Behind the Scenes (www.behindthescenescharity.org):
The LRLR ride starts in Nashville, TN on Sunday, May 31st. The riders cover all their own expenses so everything they raise goes to charity. Sponsor a rider today at www.behindthescenescharity.org/lrlr.
Festivities led off with the popular kazoo parade led by Bill Sapsis and many of the LRLR along with previous BTS grant recipient Michael Maag. Following the parade, the Board of the PLASA Foundation honored Intelligent Lighting Creations for their commitment to Behind the Scenes and their creative fundraising which engages employees, customers and vendors in supporting their colleagues in need. Ryan Bundy of ILC accepted the certificate of recognition.
Students representing the USITT Chapter at Penn State University made their annual presentation of proceeds from their ongoing fundraising activities and Pledge-a-Product partners Rosco and ETC presented checks from the sales of Roscolux #359 and the iRFR and aRFR apps respectively. A.C.T Lighting became the newest Pledge-a-Product participant with the announcement at the show that they will be donating a portion of the profits from the sales of the new dot2 series of Lighting Control Solutions from MA Lighting.
The auction items saw some lively bidding, particularly the copy of Entertainment Rigging for the 21st Century donated by Bill Sapsis which was autographed by all the authors (one of only two such copies in existence). After a frenzied bidding war, USITT President Lea Asbell-Swanger walked off with the book. Additional auction items were donated by Brad Schiller, IATSE Local One, and Shan and Trish Ayers.
Five minutes before the raffle started Bill Sapsis announced he would donate up to $1,000 to match the amount raised in last minute ticket sales. There was a flurry of activity as the crowd stepped up and made Bill pay out the full amount. The winners and their prizes are:
- Andy Gutshall – Grand Prize, Vectorworks Spotlight with Renderworks
- Krystal Kennel – BTS Ghostlight from Altman Rentals
- Adam Marshall – GaffGun and CoreLok Tape from BMI Supply and Production Advantage
- Chris Patton – GoPro from InterAmerica Stage
- Ken Tilson – iPad mini from iWeiss Theatrical Solutions
- Bradley Chelberg – ETC Source 4 mini portable from Musson Theatrical
- Larry Schoeneman – PN 700-7501 Cognito PC/Uno Bundle from Pathway Connectivity Solutions
- Robert Edmonson – ProPlus Rope Access Harness from Sapsis Rigging
- Katie Hughes – USITT 2016 Full Conference Registration from USITT
- Dan Vilter – $250 Gift Certificate from Vincent Lighting Systems
Special thanks go to USITT for making our presence at the show possible; to Moe Conn, Kim Craigie, Mark Heiser, and Bill Sapsis, for their invaluable help; to the donors of our fabulous prizes; and to all who bought raffle tickets, auction items, and swag.
All proceeds go to the Behind the Scenes charity which assists entertainment technology industry professionals or their immediate family members who are ill or injured. For more information about Behind the Scenes, to donate, or to apply for a grant, visit www.behindthescenescharity.org. For more information about the Long Reach Long Riders visit www.lrlr.org.
