Fundraising is vital for any nonprofit, and the Hanford Multicultural Theater Company (HMTC) is no exception. While we seek assistance from grants to accomplish our goals, the majority of our funding needs to come from our community. One of the ways we raise funds is through comedy shows.
Our primary commitment to our community is to provide a platform for members to express themselves. It is essential to exercise this part of the brain to promote well-being. Personally, teaching acting to kids greatly promotes my well-being. Witnessing their joyful expressions and their parents capturing those moments on their cellphones is truly fulfilling.
The kids saying their goodbyes and telling me they look forward to next week's class made me wonder what they would do if there were no more classes. Word has it that arts grants are getting cut and the funds that we were promised may not come after all.
We do meaningful work with the children, and there is an impact on their lives. I've witnessed how our classes provide confidence and leadership skills. However, nonprofits do run out of money and, well, you know.
There are options for adults to receive improv instruction, though it would require them to drive to Bakersfield for classes which I heard has a dynamic instructor.
In Los Angeles an abundance of acting instruction is available. They are usually competitive and come with a cost and a hefty drive.
Parents who see promise in their children and have the means will do whatever it takes. The ones in between, are the ones we work with the most at HMTC.
Perhaps our biggest mistake was not charging for classes. While it's a positive aspect considering the grants we've received, from a business standpoint, it's a downside.
We heavily rely on stand-up comedy shows at our theater for fundraising. We will host comedian Dave Yates, along with the warm-up comedy team of Nathaniel Webb, David May, and Marcos Alvarez.
The show is on Saturday, October 5 at 7:30 pm. Tacos San Marcos will be there with food choices. We will offer drinks in the lobby. We also offer a theater ambiance that is one of a kind in Hanford.
You can find all the information about our shows and purchase tickets at www.HanfordMTC.com or get ticket here
