Tune in to radio-a-thon fundraiser
May 2, 2012 5:08PM
India Maynor is raising money to attend the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Summer Intensive program in New York. She attends Wirt-Emerson Performing Arts Academy in Gary, Ind., and teaches dance at the South Shore Center for the Arts. | Provided Photo
Updated: May 3, 2012 8:48AM
From 6 a.m. to noon Friday, May 4, the Urban League of Northwest Indiana, in conjunction with WLTH-AM (1370) radio, will host a radio-a-thon fundraiser broadcasting from the Urban League office at 3101 Broadway.
This is a way to continue to support the Urban League of Northwest Indiana as it provides a wide variety of services over the last year — job searches, computer training, food referrals, education and financial literacy forums, free tax filings and scholarships for qualified high school students.
Listeners may call in at 794-1374 or 887-9621 and support the Urban League through financial pledges. You can also stop by the Urban League of Northwest Indiana office and drop off pledges in person.
If you cannot stop by or call in, donations can be made using the Urban League’s Paypal account at urbanleagueofnwi.org.
Wirt-Emerson Visual and Performing Arts Academy dance majors Diamond Harris and India Maynor have separate goals to make the same dream come true — to participate in the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Summer Intensive 2012 in New York City from June 19 through July 27.
Each girl has to raise about $5,400 for tuition, room and board; airfare has not yet been determined. Both dance students are working diligently to raise money and are seeking support from the community.
Maynor, who teaches beginning modern and beginning ballet to children ages 5 to 13 at the South Shore Centre for the Arts at 665 S. Lake St., said she is working on creating fund-raiser events to raise her more than $5,000 fee.
She auditioned for a spot with Alvin Ailey in Detroit after missing an audition in Chicago.
“I received an email with the acceptance letter three weeks after auditioning. I auditioned because after participating in Ballet Chicago last year, I wanted to do something different and experience Alvin Ailey,” Maynor said. “I’ve been a dance major at Emerson since the sixth grade and my goal is to attend Juilliard School for Dance.”
Maynor is the daughter of Marisa Clemons and Johnny Maynor.
While India is also looking into scholarships and passing out support letters, if you wish to support her Alvin Ailey experience, call dance instructors Larry Brewer and Michael Davis at Wirt-Emerson from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Monday through Friday at 938-1161.
Harris, who was featured in a Post-Tribune article last week, is having a couple of fundraisers, including a car wash from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at Johnsen’s Blue Top Drive-In, 8801 Indianapolis Blvd., in Griffith.
At 7 p.m. Monday, May 7, Mi Tierra Restaurant, 1705 E. Main (inside the Griffith Airport) in Griffith, is sponsoring a fundraiser.
Tickets are $20 and must be purchased in advance. Call 712-5908 for ticket purchases and additional information.
