The Crookston Pirate Fine Arts Booster club is celebrating its 20th year this year. The club raises money for the Crookston Public Schools’ fine arts programs and they also handed out an award of appreciation to KROX Radio for the support over the past 20 years.
Board President and original board member, Jim Kent, said it is hard to believe it has been 20 years. “You look back and wonder where did the time go and we are celebrating the 20th year this year,” said Kent. “The community has really responded. Our only means of support is a letter we send out in the summer and people have contributed to that. We are thankful to the June Shaver Estate that has contributed, certainly, people of the surrounding communities that have been listening to the radio, have found about the Pirate Fine Arts Boosters, and found out what our mission is for our school district and they have also contributed. It has been an amazing thing.”
The Pirate Fine Arts Boosters gives money to programs that affect K-12 students. “We do awards for elementary music just like the high school band can apply,” said Kent. “We try to give scholarships to students and most of them go to high school students. We have also brought in artists in residence that work with just grades 1 and 2, another one that worked with grades 3 and 4. We also had Jen Walz of Crookston who worked with elementary students and then high school students.”
While celebrating 20 years, the Pirate Fine Arts Boosters also handed out an award to KROX Radio for its support over the 20 years. “We are thanking KROX for their support over the years and it takes a whole community to do this kind of thing,” said Kent. “We really appreciate KROX in helping get the word out about our organization. They have always been there and we appreciate the service they provide to our community and our organization.”
Kent said he also wants to thank the community of Crookston for the support. “People have responded and we appreciate how people feel about the arts in the public school and that is the reason why we are here, to support all the arts programs in the Crookston School district. Our students are really the ones that benefit from this.”
If you would like to donate the information is below –
PFAB
PO Box 743
Crookston, MN 56716
Call Greg Garmen or Robin Reitmeier at Crookston High School (218-281-2144), or call Jim Kent at home.
