Join LEAF for these upcoming community events!

• Asheville Earth Day- Lexington Ave., Downtown Asheville, April 21, 2012. Noon-10pm.  Free outdoor day festival. Proceeds from wristband sales benefit LEAF in Schools & Streets.
• SAVE THE DATE for Benefit of Culture SEPTEMBER 6th 2012! Details to follow soon...
  

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Local businesses collaborate to raise over $11,000 for LEAF in Schools and Streets and LEAF International.
                                                                       See the pictures!

Parker J Pfister It all began as an idea.  There was a love for LEAF, and what they were doing beyond just a biannual festival.  LEAF is NOT just a festival anymore, but an organization filling the gap as a top arts in education provider for over five thousand youth every year…and not just here in Buncombe County, but beyond into seven countries across the world.

The staff at Wink, a local salon and boutique, wanted a way to help benefit these programs, both LEAF In Schools and Streets and LEAF International by having an event that was not only about raising money but making people aware of the great work that LEAF is doing.  Christine DiBenedetto from Wink went to work immediately conceptualizing the evening with the help of fashion designer Brooke Priddy from Ship To Shore.  They were sure they wanted to express the nature of LEAF’s misson through their mediums of hair and fashion.  They began researching the countries LEAF was working in and wanted to create a performance that encapsulated both the varying cultures of each country but also contained an educational aspect about what specifically LEAF was doing in each country. They also knew there were other local artisans and businesses who would be integral in supporting this venture and in making it happen.  

As far as fundraisers go, the Benefit of Culture was worlds away from your typical event. The evening progressed from performances from two local youth community centers sharing the skills they had learned from the year, to the fashion and hair art experience with models invoking the spirit of four countries through movement and dance, and finally ending with an otherworldly performance from River Guerguerian Project and friends. As the night progressed, guests enjoyed bidding on raffle and silent auction items, imbibing locally crafted Highland Brewing ales, and nourishing their bodies through delectable catering from Homegrown Local Food Eatery. Many guests were raving about the variety of the food (mostly sourced from local farmers) as well as the quality. As a finale to the evening, over 600 handmade “Kashata” and “Tres Leches” truffles inspired by Tanzania and Mexico from French Broad Chocolate Lounge were distributed.

The Benefit of Culture raised over $11,211 with 376 guests in attendance for LEAF in Schools & Streets and LEAF International. Locally, three year round teaching artists fees in Montford Recreational Center, Woodridge and Deaverview Learning Centers will be funded for the 2011-2012 school year. On a global scale, Guatemala and Mexico will receive new instruments, costumes for Rwanda, and Fredy, a teaching artist in Tanzania will be able to conduct a residency at another Roots & Shoots group in Arusha.

What impact does $1,000 make in Rwanda? To the Intore Cultural Troupe, costumes are everything. Costumes are carefully handcrafted in the traditional Rwandan style of “imishanana”. Thanks to the proceeds from the Benefit of Culture new costumes are being purchased so that the troupe no longer has to rent them for performances. Performances are the only income source for this “band of brothers” LEAF has come to know since the start of the Rwanda program in 2007.

Creative Team: Lisa Zahiya, Image 420, Brooke Priddy, Wink Staff, Make Up, DJ Panther God, Tommy Gun Productions, Amber Hatchett, Parker J Pfister Photography, Wyman Tannehill

Nourishment Team: Homegrown Local Food Eatery, French Broad Chocolate Lounge, Greenlife Grocery

Team Imbibe: Highland Brewing Company, Skyland Distributing, Biltmore Estate, Oowee Koozie

Performance Crew: Kenya Webster & Shiloh Center Drummers, Lisa Zahiya & Burton St. Dancers, DJ Panther God, River Guerguerian Project with special guests Billy Cardine, Chris Rosser and Casey Driessen.

Media Team: 98.1 The River, Advantage Printing, Mountain Xpress

LEAF in Schools & Streets is a local arts in education outreach program matching artists with youth in schools and communities for hands‐on workshops, residencies, interactive performances and mentoring.

LEAF International collaborates to empower youth through musical traditions, to enhance self esteem, to educate and to create skills, connections and community.

Jill Nicolino