Charles Bruce Foundation

Our community has lost one of her most important stalwarts! Nevin Lehman passed today - the way he lived - with grand dignity.

This entire community would do anything to keep him forever - or at least another couple of decades. 

We want to paint a mural of Nevin in town. A place someone can get a picture taken with him - as so many of us did with him when he as alive.

We can get all this done for about 2300... the rest is to pay the fees to go fund me. 

Please share this far and wide. We want Nevin stories - and we'll get this mural done one way or the other. 

I know we speak for all of us when we say - this town just lost a giant chunk of it's charm.

THANK YOU!!! WE MADE OUR GOAL IN JUST 5 WEEKS, AND THE GENEROSITY KEEPS POURING IN! 

This campaign will be up for a while longer in case anyone still wishes to donate. Further donations will go toward making sure this book is the best it can absolutely be and will help us be able to market it so that we can distribute as widely as possible! Let's take this puppy global! We are heavy into production now, and I cannot wait to unveil more information in the upcoming months! Stay tuned!

Here is what we're all about:

My name is Matthew Donnell. My wife Alana and I are former dancers, and in 2018, we joined the faculty of the prestigious Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet after spending four successful years directing the Preparatory Dance Program of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Three of my biggest loves in life are people, ballet, and teaching children. Teaching ballet combines all of these so perfectly, and I am grateful to have this as my profession. I love the life lessons that the art form of ballet imparts to dancers, as well as the joy it brings to audience members. 
 
In 2013, an idea came to me that expressed my love for the three aforementioned beings. I put pen to paper and wrote the text to what I dreamt would be a Christmas holiday, ballet – based, illustrated children’s book series. 
 
Five years later, I am excited to announce that I have found the perfect organization to publish my first book!
 
The Charles Bruce Foundation is a non – profit organization that raises funds to support Writers, Artists, and Musicians. They have a core belief that I cherish – that people should be able to live their passions without having to suffer for them. The scope of their work is broad. From helping new authors publish their first books and paying musicians to play music throughout town (without having to panhandle) to helping struggling artists pay their rent, medical bills, and put food on their tables. The CBF gives selflessly of themselves so that others can accomplish their dreams.
 
I feel blessed to have found this organization. They are excited about my book and we are eager to publish it for a holiday 2019 unveiling! In support of what they do, I have decided to donate the proceeds of the first release of my book to them with the hopes that they may be able to continue helping writers, artists, and musicians. 
 
We are setting out to raise $7,000 for the production of this book which includes not only the physical printing and all that goes into it, but most excitedly, we will be paying an incredible artist to illustrate the book, further bringing this dream to life.

CBF had someone in mind to do just that. This artist, I'm excited to announce is Fran Piper. Fran has lived in Carlisle, PA for over 30 years and is a member of Carlisle Arts Learning Center. She is self-taught and works in different mediums - always pushing herself to try something new. She has always loved painting, and colored pencil is her favorite. I have dreamt of finding someone who would take my text and lay it on paper. When I saw Fran's work, I knew instantly, she is the one to add color and life to my words.

As we push onward, I cannot wait to share more of Fran with you.

Your contribution is tax deductible. If you are able to share $250 or more, you may be included in the acknowledgements, ​should you so desire.

I want to emphasize once more that I will not be taking any of the proceeds.
 
Please feel free to share this with your friends and family. Thank you for considering being a part of this journey!
 
Sincerely,
Matthew