Grant Recipient Dafnis Prieto The Boomerang Fund for Artists, Inc. Dear Friends of the Boomerang Fund: In 2004, Boomerang awarded its first grant to then-unknown jazz percussionist and composer Dafnis Prieto. Mr. Prieto used the money to complete his first album. Fast forward to the present…Now Mr. Prieto is a celebrated jazz artist, with two Grammy nominations and several critically acclaimed albums to his credit. The role that Boomerang played in Mr. Prieto’s career development, albeit small, was pivotal. Mr. Prieto said “That grant was the push I needed to jump start my career.” Since its inception, with your generous support, Boomerang has provided assistance to more than 30 artists—dancers, visual artists, choreographers, ballet dancers, musicians, actors, writers, filmmakers, the works! The impact of these grants is inarguable. They provide real support, not only financial, but inspirational, without exacting anything from the artists who unexpectedly find themselves the beneficiaries of your generosity. Here are three testimonials from grant recipients: Ensemble Studio Theatre: When E.S.T. received news of this amazing grant, we jumped for joy! Thanks to the Boomerang Fund, E.S.T. artists continue to birth their best new theatre to the world, several hundred new works each year. You would be most proud of how these funds are being used, right now. Heather Maloy (Artistic Director, Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance): Knowing that there are generous people in the world who see art and make the decision to support it, completely unsolicited no less, makes doing what we do worthwhile. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Steve Allen (Saxophonist): I don’t know how to thank you and your beautiful Boomerang Fund for the check. I’ve deposited it in an account to start the building of a new house in New Orleans. There will be a future for New Orleans, thanks largely to the warm and generous deeds of benevolent strangers like the Boomerang Fund. Last year, with the economic meltdown taking center stage, Boomerang did not send its annual solicitation letter. Even without the letter, donors made it possible for Boomerang to award half a dozen grants. Now, with cautious optimism, Boomerang reaches out, not only to solicit donations, but more importantly, to thank you for support over the years. Whether you wrote checks, used goodsearch.com, attended performances, or sent notes of encouragement, please know that you have been instrumental in the success of the Boomerang Fund. Boomerang and its grant recipients are profoundly grateful for your support! If you are able to contribute at this time, please make checks payable to Boomerang Fund, and mail them to the above address. You can also make contributions via Facebook using the Network For Good. Because Boomerang is a no-frills operation with zero administrative expenses, every dime you contribute goes to artists! Boomerang also is proud to recognize its most recent grant recipients: Jeremy Skidmore received a Boomerang grant in November in honor of his outstanding talent as a director, and Dan Stroeh received a Boomerang grant in December in recognition of his extraordinary talent as a writer. Mr. Stroeh is Boomerang's first recipient of the Carpe Diem Award, an annual grant that is funded by two donors and matched by one of Boomerang's Advisory Board Members, to honor an artist who has demonstrated exceptional talent, tenacity for living a life in the arts, and exceptional zest for life. Playwright Darren Canady is Boomerang's first grant recipient of 2010, followed two weeks later by ballet dancer extraordinaire Jonathan Jordan. Thanks once again for your kindness. May your generosity be returned to you a thousand times over! With gratitude and best wishes, Joseph P. Morra President, Boomerang Fund For Artists, Inc. Fed. Tax ID No. 04-3760294