Dear all:

Princeton University Gospel Ensemble (PUGE) is the oldest running Black Christian organization at Princeton University. Since 1971, PUGE has insisted on dignifying Black gospel music on Princeton's campus. Almost 55 years later, we still are envisioning a world where everyone feels safe enough to grasp their dignity and fully promote their neighbors'.

Last year, you helped us raise $1,150 for our Black History Month Concert; we are so grateful. We hoped your support would help us build momentum for our future work of courageously and communally proclaiming God's peace to Princeton's campus, and we've only grown since. Numbers aren't everything, of course, but thanks to the work of our tremendous students and your support, our choir is larger than it's been in almost 10 years. Since February 2025, we've had 2 other concerts, performed at St. Paul's Baptist Church in Philadelphia, and performed at the Sankofa Fashion Show last spring, all while growing together in our love for each other and for Jesus. And I truly believe that we're only getting started.

Our Black History Month concert is our largest event of the year. And yet again, many great musicians -- none of them current students at Princeton University -- have agreed to participate in this event. We want to pay them. We still want to independently have sound and music equipment of our own; we have a ways to go before we get there. We're working on officially becoming a registered nonprofit so that we can expand our work for the future. All of that requires funds. We're grateful for Princeton University's support, and I'm honored to chip in where I can, but we don't currently have enough to reach our vision. So we turn to you: Can you help?

Last year, we talked a lot about how God always provides enough, and we learned that in real ways. This year, we're trusting that the network of alums and other people who care about our ministry might be able to come through for us again. Thank you so much for considering! Even if you can't support financially, we do request your prayers. And we invite you all to join us on February 26 at 8PM in McCosh 10 (updated from February 22 due to the blizzard!).

UPDATE, MARCH 1, 2026: We reached $1,950 before the concert! This allowed us to pay our band, and buy some equipment - and we are so grateful. We're keeping this open because we're still hoping to do more (we're looking to buy speakers, which cost - for some quality ones that we hope will last - about $1,800 ... a soundboard, which will cost about $1,500 ... a drumset, which in total - hardware/cymbals/shell/case - will cost about $1,800 ... a keyboard, which will cost about $1,300) ... and your support will make that possible.

Darren Saint-Ulysse

Princeton, '15

PUGE Senior Director

(Please reach out to me with any questions - I'm happy to clarify anything!)