SPRING CAMPAIGN 2023

April 5, 2023

Dearest Townies,

I would like to officially invite you to join me at The Townies Anti-Gala: Paella Disco Party to dance, eat and be merry! My name is Marian St. James and I live in Ojai, CA, where I serve on the Board of The Townies, Inc., a nonprofit organization devoted to empowering individuals and building healthy communities through the power of storytelling. Why am I hosting this fundraiser? Because The Townies provided the space, courage and community to rise above the traumatic circumstances that brought me and my sons, Eric and Joe, to Ojai four years ago, and it changed my life.

For the first five months after moving to town, we knew just one person, author Catherine Jones. Eric got a job at a local market and I stared out the window, grateful to have physically removed ourselves from trauma, but still craving community, which we knew would help us move past it. So, we promised ourselves that we would host a paella party for 30 people by the end of the year – a distant but hopeful goal. 

Often we would find comfort in the words, “FIND YOUR VOICE” printed in large letters in the window of a studio across the street from the market where Eric worked. Catherine introduced me to Kim Maxwell, founder of The Townies, Inc. (which just so happened to be that same studio we were peering into with curiosity) and prompted me to pursue one of Kim's writing workshops – but I was hesitant. The scariest thing I could think of was to write and voice my pain in front of strangers, and at the same time, I knew it’s exactly what I had to do. So, I dared Eric, “if you take The Townies workshop, I will too,” and the rest is history

For 10 weeks I shared my stories alongside 10 other writers, and eventually, we presented those stories as an ensemble in front of two sold-out audiences. After the performances, strangers came up to me with tears in their eyes. Those strangers are now my friends, they are my son's friends. At the end of that year we had a paella party with 35 people! It turned into an evening symbolic of the community, voice, heart and strength that the Townies community and programming brought into our lives.

Every heart has a story to tell and in sharing those stories, we start the process of healing. We laugh, cry, whisper, yell and we gain the courage to speak out loud, where we own our voice. This is why I now proudly serve as a Townie Board Member alongside 10 passionate humans. In these times that challenge our hearts, we are more dedicated than ever to creating the bridge from separation to community. The Townies is a resource for people of all walks of life to be given the space and encouragement to tell their stories, to celebrate their triumphs and grieve their losses. This is a place where my son and I felt safe and seen, held even, a place where people can show up as they are.

Whether you are a Townie alum or hearing of us for the first time, I’d love it if you can join me in attending and supporting The Townies Anti-Gala: Paella Disco Party on Saturday, May 13, 2023 (a “donate what you can” event). There will be paella! There will be a disco ball! And despite the pins in my legs… there will be dancing! Surely an event worthy of your fabulous dance moves and a generous donation… after all, I am making my treasured family paella recipe! And that value is priceless.

Much love,
Marian St. James

And the rest of Team Townies:
Molly Allison
Lily Brown
Sharon Cromartie
Vanessa Frank
Doug Green
Kim Maxwell
Shana McMorran
Jessica Mendiola
Katie Newbaum
Rain Perry
Carol Ramser
Cari Shore
Kate Thompson

2022 END-OF-YEAR CAMPAIGN

Thank you so much to everyone who helps us reach our 2022 End-of-Year goal of $10,000! Raised so far: $26,852.25! We did it!!! Thank you all so much.

LADIES, BLOKES, & NONBINARY FOLX,

With love from the rest of Team Townies,

December 2022

Howdy Townies! My name is Kate Thompson.

“You should do this. You can do this!” My heart said to me that night.

My friends wanted to stay after the performance and shake hands with these heroes, but I was awestruck. I got so nervous to say hello — to say thank you, thank you for showing me that this type of experience exists. That all this nonsense and beauty and sorrow we come in contact with everyday can be made into a night like tonight.

As George Saunders so beautifully paraphrases Chekhov: “Art prepares us for tenderness.”

2021 END-OF-YEAR CAMPAIGN

Thank you so much to everyone who helped us reach our 2021 End-of-Year goal!

OUR DONORS

11/19/2021 BIRTHDAY FUNDRAISER:
Kim Maxwell, Executive Director

RUN-ON-BIRTHDAY-SENTENCE-ALERT: I am 59 today and I have a birthday wish! I wish for more compassion, more connection, more creativity and self-expression, self-love and self-acceptance… I wish for more words and more stories and greater equity in those who get to tell those stories and greater accessibility to hear, experience, celebrate and applaud those stories…

This is the work we do at The Townies, Inc. and I’m asking you to join me in supporting our hard-working and mighty staff of 3, fierce and dedicated board of 12 non-profit superstars and the most incredibly talented, supportive, kind and courageous community of wordsmiths/word-nerds/story-enthusiasts ever to spill their guts on the page.

There is a link below — a donation of any size will make all the difference in the world. A donation of $50 or more will will make all the difference in the world and get you this years wildly appropriate F*%K YOU I LOVE MYSELF commemorative pin. A donation of $250 or more will will make all the difference in the world and get you this years wildly appropriate F*%K YOU I LOVE MYSELF commemorative pin - AND - The Townies, Inc. notebook and pen to capture all of your radical self-love musings.

TOTAL RAISED: $805

THANK YOU:

Molly Allison

Stacy Allison

Lily Brown & Amaury Saugrain

Theresa Bulla-Richards

Bob Burton

Elizabeth Rosengren Cotone

Christine Denney

Trudy Frohlich

Donna Goris

Doug Green

Michelle Joyner

Lee Ann Manley

Rain Perry

11/9/2021 BIRTHDAY FUNDRAISER:
RAIN PERRY, Board President

“Alrighty folks - I’ve never done a birthday fundraiser before, but I’m proud to do one this year in support of The Townies, Inc. Each day between now and my birthday, I’ll be posting reasons I love this local treasure of an organization. Reason number one has to be Kim Maxwell, speaking of local treasures.

Years ago, when my kids were small, I was outgrowing my earnest early performing songwriter phase but didn’t really know who/what I was growing into, or how to balance the quadrants of my dreams and responsibilities. I thought I needed to GET FAMOUS; I was literally raised to believe that was the goal. And I didn’t know how to balance that goal with the realities of my life.

I took a leap of faith and signed up for one of Kim’s writing/performing classes. And from day one, she employed techniques and tools and an uncanny perceptiveness that broke through straight to the heart of the uniqueness and beauty of who we in class truly were and what we needed to express right then.

She created a safe place for us do scary exercises designed to open our hearts to the people in the audience, to stand exposed and honest and say what we needed to say.

Most people in that class were not official performers, and some had never been on a stage before. For them, getting over that hurdle was a revelation in itself. But for me, I learned how to be on stage in a way that was new, and an approach that has carried me through to this day; here is my vulnerable self, using my craft to say things that are true for me, connecting to the vulnerable parts of the rest of the people in the room. We are all in this together and the world is stronger when we are brave and open and empathize with each other.

Well, I just wanted more of that. So I took some more classes from Kim, then I got recruited to join the board of Theater 150, and then when I found myself writing something massive, Kim and I joined forces to create Cinderblock Bookshelves. When she founded Kim Maxwell Studio, I was right there on that board, and then I was proud to stand behind her when it all came together as The Townies, Inc.

So! For my birthday, I would be grateful if you would consider supporting an organization which continues to do for the community of Ojai and beyond what Kim did for me so many years ago – which is to provide a tried and true method for you to FIND YOUR VOICE.

Thank you!”

Follow the progress of Rain’s birthday campaign on Facebook by clicking HERE!

— Rain Perry, Board President

TOTAL RAISED: $2,231

THANK YOU!!!:

10/24/2021 BIRTHDAY FUNDRAISER:
SHARON CROMARTIE, Board Member

“Last year, I was invited to participate in The Townies, Inc.’s Virtual Writers Room. While I certainly had heard of The Townies, I never thought it was for me. The ever so kind, beautiful, amazing person in the form of Kim Maxwell reached out to me after I wrote a long post about what it's like to be a mixed race person in America after the George Floyd murder.

The Townies, Inc. values voices and allows those of us who may have felt silenced at times to speak our truth on paper. I am an emerging storyteller thanks to this splendid organization! I cannot say enough about The Townies and how it brings people of all ages and backgrounds together, particularly those with incredible and magnificent stories that we don't hear about because we don't ask.

Please help me help Townies, Inc. grow their financial abundance so that others have the opportunity to be encouraged and supported in writing their stories!

I hope you'll consider contributing as a way to celebrate with me. Every little bit will help me reach my goal of $1,000.”

Follow the progress of Sharon’s birthday campaign on Facebook by clicking HERE!

— Sharon Cromartie, Board Member

TOTAL RAISED: $830

THANK YOU!!!:
Rain Perry
Kim Maxwell
Dena Jenson
Courtney Lane
Thea Selby
Nicholas Deitch
Gloria Miele
Marty Harris
Julie Harvey
Eleanor Hauser
Michele Chapin
John Hankins
Patti Jane
Patt Wilson McDaniel
Karen Briefer
Alison Krafft Rempel
4 x Anonymous

9/19/2021 BIRTHDAY FUNDRAISER:
KATIE NEWBAUM, Board Member

“It was three days after my 30th birthday and one day after my first day with the man that would become my husband.

I walked into class a bit nervous and very eager. There was a circle of chairs and an excited blonde woman. She walked with a slight limp back then.

I listened to every word that came out of that blonde’s mouth - I hung on each of her thoughts. She was speaking my language - one I had no clue I was fluent in.

I remember the first freewrite. It was about how I wanted a moment in the spotlight for something I am perfect for, something meant to be, something uniquely me. Well, that’s not what I wrote, really - I wrote about how I can harmonize the fuck out of Jackson Browne.

Since that first piece was written in that large, grey, rectangle, I have been finding the moment I was in search for from the start. Unapologetically telling my story, and being heard.

I love The Townies because we dare to dream. We speak up for ourselves, and for those that have not yet found their voices. We love hard; we dance unabashedly; we sing while quacking like a duck and rolling around on the floor. I love us.

Let’s celebrate being Alive and Creative and Brave!”

— Katie Newbaum, Board Member

7/13/21 BIRTHDAY FUNDRAISER:
DOUG GREEN, Board Member

UPDATE: Thank you to every person who donated and joined us at Paddy’s for a celebration of Doug. We were able to raise a total of $5,000 for The Townies, Inc., meaning more stories and more scholarships. Thank you all so much!!!

2021 SPRING CAMPAIGN

$10,044 RAISED FOR THE TOWNIES!

Thank you so much to everyone who donated! We’re reeling from the overwhelming support we have received. We met our match and we are so incredibly grateful and can’t wait to use every cent to connect people one story at a time.

We now have the Virtual Comedy/Party Thing available for anyone who may have missed it so if you still want to see and still want to donate, click the button below!

And THANK YOU SO MUCH to Jack & Nicole Fisher (aka the ‘Front Row Fishers’) for their $5,000 matching donation that made all of this possible!

SPRING 2021 DONORS

3/30/21 BIRTHDAY FUNDRAISER:
VANESSA FRANK

“My favorite Townie moment of all time is the night I caught Noah Lashly launch his piece, Straight To Gay for the first time. Good comedy is tragedy turned inside out. Once a comedian gets your body laughing, your mind is opened. Noah’s delivery was bawdy and outrageous and, most of all, TRUE. I cried and laughed until my guts ached and I was so grateful to have lived to see that moment, that we had all arrived at that moment.

There, in the small gray box that is The Townies, Inc. Packed in and rocking with people laughing and joyous and maybe a little appalled. I recently heard Keegan-Michael Key recounting the history of sketch comedy. Noah’s piece is Exhibit A of the “you can’t DO that!” moment. And he just KILLED. And we were all able to be there. Together in that safe, warm space. Happy.

I still keep the podcast The Townies made of Noah’s set on my phone and listen to it whenever I want to hear an old friend, or just be reminded of all the joy and humiliation and true comedy that being alive can bring.

It’s my birthday tomorrow, and I’m not sure what I’ll be doing, it being a pandemic and all, I can’t get together with any of you. But if you can, if you were thinking of sending me anything, please consider giving to The Townies Inc, a non-profit I’m on the board of, that has changed my life. Drawing stories from diverse and marginalized communities, The Townies, Inc. seeks to employ storytelling as a means to inspire conversation rooted in equity, empathy, and social justice.

I use the skills I learned from The Townies’ storytelling and performance workshops every day. Whether it is writing a brief and finding the germ of the issue or listening carefully to the story of their life a client is telling me, listening for the narrative each person carries inside them.

Each person in the workshops, and each member of the audience, get so much from The Townies. And this year, more than ever, live performing arts have taken such a hard hit. Live performance is one of the most powerful forces for transformation, and it will be one of the last things to come back into full force as we emerge from the wreckage of the pandemic.

So if you have the time, have some extra pocket change, have a $30 million inheritance, can relate, can’t relate, you’re a socialist, love your friends, if we haven’t spoken in years, or don’t know how you got to this part of the internet and found this message… please consider donating whatever you can. I'm hoping to get 46 people to donate $10-$20 each. Will you be one of those 46? Thank you!”

-Vanessa Frank, Board Member

1/14/2021 BIRTHDAY FUNDRAISER:
ERIC ST. JAMES-LOPEZ

Hi everyone! Today, January 14th, is my birthday. I’m not sure what I’ll be doing, it being a pandemic and all, can’t go out anywhere or see friends. But if you can, if you were thinking of sending me anything, please consider giving to The Townies Inc, a non-profit I’m on the board of, that has changed my life, literally. More than ever, their work matters, their work works, and their work has had such a profound impact on me and many others. With particular emphasis on the stories of diverse and marginalized communities, The Townies, Inc. seeks to employ storytelling as a means to inspire conversation rooted in equity, empathy and social justice.

I used the skills I learned from The Townie’s storytelling and performance workshops during a deposition where I stood up for myself against someone who had taken advantage of me. The Townies, Inc helped me when I was at my most vulnerable after I moved, without any friends in Ojai yet. The Townies, Inc. helped me gain confidence in myself again, and I will never forget the rush of performing in front of sooo many people and feeling heard and seen on my opening night. My mom performed as well and absolutely killed it. The Townies, Inc. really was the catharsis we both needed, and if I’m being honest, was like a strong dose of therapy. That’s what the world needs right now, therapy!

So if you have the time, have some extra pocket change, have a $30 million inheritance, can relate, can’t relate, you’re a socialist, love your mom, if we haven’t spoken in years, or don’t know how you got to this part of the internet and found this message… please consider donating whatever you can! Thank you!

-Eric St. James-Lopez, Board Member

OUR FALL 2020 DONORS:

CLICK HERE to read our End of Year Letter from brilliant playwright and beloved Townie, Gideon Jeph Wabvuta!

In these trying times, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for choosing to support your community. Your generosity gives us the ability to fulfill and build upon our mission when connection is needed most.

OUR SPRING 2020 DONORS:

We could not be more grateful to each one of our donors, listed below.
Your support means more scholarships, more programming,
more stories than ever before.

OUR FALL 2019 DONORS:

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to every single person listed below.
None of this would be possible without you.

The Townies, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Organization. Your gift is tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.