Our community continues to amaze us! Thank you. Thank you to everyone who donated to The Muse Writers Center during Give Local 757! We ended up winning 2 (the maximum) extra grants for the most donors that donated between 1-2 p.m. and 2-3 p.m. In all, 460+ donors contributed more than $28,000 in one day.
If you didn't get a chance to donate on April 23, it's not too late. You can still make a real difference in people's lives by supporting a specific program or joining as a member.
The anonymous donor was so impressed with the energy you created during Give Local, they sent us the match. Together with your donations, your generosity will impact the lives of thousands of people that are living with challenges such as domestic trauma, loneliness, disability, homelessness, severe illness, bereavement, and loss, as well as youth in crisis, wounded veterans, and seniors living in memory care.
Creative writing is one of the best forces for health, wellness, and healing for people who are not normally served or heard. We truly believe that expressing yourself changes everything.
To everyone listed below, you have our deep gratitude. The passion and strength of our community show the power of our impact and the power of yours. Thank you, again to:
Akash Khandelwal, Alba Woolard, Albert Markowitz (from Partisan Press), Alex Hudson, Alicia Dekker , Alison Schoew, Allan Reynolds, Alyssa ONeal, Amanda Collins, Amy Cardona, Andrew Leggett, Andrew Tavss (In honor and recognition of the efforts of Charles Hecht- Leavitt), Andria McClellan, Anetra Robinson, Angela Clayton, Angela Courtney, Angie Wierzbicki, Ann Bowen (In honor of Diane Fine), Ann Sullivan, Arlene Arthur, Artemis Stoll, Arthur Klepchukov (Happy writing!), Ashley Johnson, Ashley Swindell (Love the Muse and all the wonderful opportunities it provides our community for writing, sharing & learning! ), Atoy Carrington, Audra Mitchell, Ayana Gray, Barbara Gardner, Barbara Scout (in honor of Alicia Wright Dekker), Belinda Elliott, Beth Shamaiengar (Keep up the great work!! ), Bob Lehman, Bonita Anthony, Brad McMurran, Brenda Barnes, Brenda Markulin, Brian Hennessy, Bridget Dolan, Brittainy Heffner, Buffy Elder, Caitlyn Worner, Candy Brown (So proud of Beth Williams & all the Muse writers!), Carla Du Pree, Carlyn Kelley, Carol Dudley, Carol Porter (in honor of Cindy Carlson), Caswell Richardson, Catherine Borden, Catherine Fletcher, Catherine Malley, Cathy Delaney, Charles Wilson, Charles Hecht-Leavitt, Charles Rhodes, Charles Stanton, Charles Wilson (keep up the good work), Cheryl Hornung (in honor of Alicia Dekker. Thank you for making the community a better place.), Christian Coyne, Christie Davenport, Christopher DeMatteo, Claire Smith (in memory of Rev. Aaron D. and Carolyn D. Smith), Claudia Kessel, Claudia Mackintosh & Peter Pruden, Claus Ihlemann and Robert Roman (Happy to support this organization), Clay Magee (in honor of Christopher Naghaski), Colonel Higgins (Godspeed!), Courtney Sherron, Cynthia Carlson, Dan Duke, Daun Hester, David Beach, David Cascio, David Dollar (for the lovely classes they offer young minds to grow. D $ and Avi ), David Kushner, David Lampert, David Neuwirth, David Sadler, David Seletyn, David Wilhelm, Dawn Berkley, Dawn Schell, Deb Moore, Deborah Baxter, Deborah "Carrie" Chantler (You guys were were a godsend during the pandemic! Best of luck this year!), Deborah Cohan, Debra Paine (in honor of Adam Paine), Denise Mastrullo, Denise Ross, Denyse Doerries, Diane Fine, Diane Zinna, Dominick Garcia, Donna Morris (Keep sharing the value and benefits of writing!), Donna Simmons (in memory of Len Wines), Doug Carlson, Dusti Connelley, Edward Goldman, Elizabeth Fine, Elizabeth Girvan, ElizaBeth McCay & David Pedrick (Thanks for your good work and inspiration!), Ellen Bryson, Emily Pease, Ernawati Burhan, Ethan Williams (I'm proud to support an outstanding organization that's doing great work for their community!), Evans McMillion, Evelyn Hinshaw, Faerie Grandmother Karen Beleck (Much Success to all of you!), Fernandez, Frances W. Ward, PhD, Gail Dodge, Gale Svenson-Campbell (in honor of Cindy Carlson--life-long friend), Gary and Susan Ball, Gavin Pate, Genesis Durst, George Connelley (In honor of my father Tomme Connelley Jr.), Georgie Marquez Andre, Germana Berni In honor of all writers!, Ginny Werner, Grace Curry, Grace Parkinson, Gregg Clifford , Gretchen Tegethoff, Gwendolyn Sinclair (in honor of Dean Robertson ), Hale Family, Hank Thompson, Hayley Foster (in memory of Evan Foster Higgins), Heather Brown Barrett, Heather McClure (Good luck! Thanks for the invitation to be a part of your marvelous work!), Hercule Poirot (Keep up the good work!), Hollie Sessoms, Holly Chacon Chacon, J George Carter, J. Ambrosio, J. Scott Teech, Jackson Stone, Jake Balderson, James Sexton, Jane Alvarez-Wertz (Love knowing this donation goes towards a local nonprofit that serves our community is so many wonderful ways.), Jane Harkness, Jane White (Happy to support this wonderful place!), Janet Bing, Janet Neeley-Johnson, Janette Brown, Jason Dietz, Jason Frishman, Jason Gunning, Jason Hoffman, Jeffrey Fine, Jeffrey Hecker (the light rays crisscrossing this magical place are all visible. In honor of the Teen Fellows), Jeffrey Hutson (Good luck with achieving your goal.), Jeffrey Morse, Jennifer Anderson (Having recently been introduced to the Muse center. I’m excited to find out this exists and hope to participate more actively in some of their programs and events. I will continue to support as I can to this amazing creative community.), Jennifer Bennie, Jennifer May, Jennifer White, Jeremy and Malia McGee, Jessica Errera, Jessica Kelley, Jessie & Russell Sumners, Jim Hodges, Jo Higgins (in memory of my Dear friend Adam Paine), John and Mary Uhrin, John Bauman (Launchspace Technologies Corporation), John DeDakis, John Desmarais, John Fanning, John Fanning Jr., John Girvan, John Koehler (in honor of Koehler Books), John McCarthy, John W. Conlee, Joni Baker, Jordan Fernandez, Jordan Yowell, Jorja Connelley, Joshua Hancock, Joy Dean, JT Hine, Julie Maynor , Julie Walls, K Dog - yes: the real deal (I'm proud of you guys, keep up the great work!!! Let me know when you're in Nashville!), Kadence, Kara Keeling, Karen & Coral Kendall, Karen Corrigan, Karen Hatler, Karen Schiler (Keep fighting the good fight, Michael!), Karla Martin, Karrie Loomis, Kate Powell, Kate Pringle, Kathleen Redfern, Kathryn Brobst, Kathy Hessmer, Kathy McCoy , Kathy Roper (Thank you for all you do!!), Kathy Sarosdy (in memory of My mother, Frances Hammer), Katie Hitchcock, Katina Stenger-Hayden, Kay Gerehart, Kedron Fix (Our gift is in honor of Diane Fine and Beth Williams!), Kelley McGee Sousa, Kelly Connolly, Kelly Sokol, Kenneth Alexander, Kerri Land (in honor of Govind Khandelwal), Kevin Coyne, Kim Bielmann, Kim Fink, Kimberly Ammons, Kindra Greene, Kristen and William Karangelen (Here's to the power of the pen, and the important work you are doing! Thank you! ), Kristen Richardson (I'm thrilled to see the Muse is still going strong! Miss ya!), Kristin Eldred, Kyla Shawyer, Lane Ritter (Happy writing!), Latonya Parker (in honor of Edgar Riddick Jr. ), Lauran Strait, Lauren Hurston, Lauren McDonald (in honor of Jen Adams and Bea), Leigh Kenyon (Go team!), Len & Faith Shartzer, Leslie Entsminger, Leslye Penelope, Leticia Alonso, Lew & Pam Crenshaw, Libby Kurz, Linda Cobb, Linda Cobb, Linda Dyer, Lisa Brandy, Lisa Cooper, Lisa Richardson, Lisa Vincent, Lissette Lorenz, Logan Kelley (For my mom and the youth program. Thanks for all the classes!), Lucy Hall, Luisa Bronski, Lynn Schoenbaum, Maddie Kane (great work), Maeli Rawls (Thank you for providing wonderful opportunities to the community!), Maia Peters, Malcom Massey Jr. (Nothing has helped my writing career more than The Muse Writers Center.), Mandy M., Mandy Pennington, Marc Gaetani, Marc Pessar (in honor of Luisa Igloria and Tim Seibles), Margaret DeTar-Lavallee, Margaret Harris, Margarita Cruz Vargas, Mariana Coxe, Marion Lidman, Marion Wrenn (in memory of David "Lefty" Bonanno), Martha MIller, Marty Shay, Mary Batten-Bland, Mary Madi, Matthew Cole (in memory of Adam Paine), Matthew Friedman, Matthew Jackson, Maya Fine, Meg Leeman, Megan McAlister, Michael Khandelwal (in honor of the amazing staff at The Muse who truly believe creative writing can change lives), Michael Klineman, Michael Rigg, Michael Wingfield (Good work!), Michael-Ray Mathews, Michele Mitchell, Michele Young-Stone (I love the muse!), Millicent Borges Accardi, Monica Patterson , Nancy Agabian, Nancy Blumenberg, Nancy Helman (In honor of my favorite writer, Jane White.), Neal Crawford, Nick Shonk (Pushers supporting our Muse. Have a great day.), Nicola Willey (in honor of Roland Gurney), Noa Greenspan, Norma Gaetani, Olesya Ramsey, Pamela Klavenski, Patricia Busbee, Patricia Corbus (in loving memory of Barbara Taylor), Patricia Lawson Chukwudi, Paula Graham, Penny Hutson, Peter Jacobs, Peter Murphy, Priscilla Tynch, Push Comedy Theater, R. L. Baxter Jr., Randolph Grinnan, Randy Thompson, Reba Bloom, Rebecca Bloom, Rebecca Lane, Rebecca Myers (in honor of Grace Tazewell), Rebecca Scherer, Reeves Mahoney, Remica Bingham-Risher, Richard Goll, Richard Levin, Robert Boester, Robert Edwards, Robert Loomis (in honor of Diane & Michael), Robert Sawyer, Robert Strait, Robin Pearson, Rodney Williamson, Rolf Williams, Rosanna Bencoach, Russell Bankston (in honor of my Muse family), Sally (Keep writing Jane and friends!), Sally Stiles (Keep up the good work!!!), Sam Bankston (in honor of The Muse family I've found and the words they've inspired.), Sandy Gamlin (n honor of Adam Paine), Sandy Robison, Sara Pelosi, Sarah Philpott, Sarah Pishko, Sean Devereux, Sharon Talasazan, Shawn Girvan (in memory of Mary Katherine Lee), Shawn Kelley, Sheryl Calija (In support of Jane's bestseller to come.), Sibel Galindez, SL Wickham (Continued blessings!), Somtow Sucharitkul, Stephanie Becker (Buena suerte! The pictures are a nice touch.), Stephanie Catherines, Stephanie Iles (Keep up the great work Michael K.!), Stephanie Spector, Stephen Burgess, Steven Salpeter, Susan & Garry Baker (A tribute to your Board Member Steve Burgess and his fine work with your organization.), Susan Deutsch (Write on!), Susan Meier, Susan Paxton (in memory of John Cameron), Susanna Gibson, Synnika Lofton, T Baker, Team Murdough (I continue to be inspired by you, Jane T. White! Write on!), Terry Joseph, Tessa Solee Wilkey (Thank you for everything!), Thayer Cory, The Birchard Family, The Green Family 3, The Philpott Family (in honor of all the amazing Muse staff ), The Write Review Annie McDonnell (in honoe of Mr. Andrew Book, because of your inspiration to me in elementary school.), Thom & JoAnn Vourlas, Tim Seibles, Timmy Dunbar, Tina Carey (In honor of Gary and Justin Alexander), Tomme Connelley III, Tomme Connelley, Tommy Leeman, Tonya Hopson (Muse Strong! Continue to teach, reach and grow our local 757 literary artists! So Blessed to have this amazing place in Norfolk. ~ Tonya H.), Tracy Jackson (In honor of Michael on this important Give Local day!), Tresa Gardner (May you all have continued success!), Trianne Smith, Tully Carr, Tyler Williamson, Vernon Flora, Vernon Williams (Shot Clock Film), Victoria Scott, Vince Gurioli , W Michael Farmer, Wendy Auerbach, William Bane (in honor of Cindy Carlson), William Harris, William Lansing Jr (love the Muse), William Moore, Zida Ash, 66 Anonymous Donors, Anonymous Donor (all the best, Michael. John), Anonymous Donor (In honor of Barbara, Virginia, Carl, Joe, and Govind. And joy to all of the children and their families that receive the benefits of this organization!!), Anonymous Donor (In honor of Janie Banister), Anonymous Donor (in honor of Michael Virginia), Anonymous Donor (In honor of my dear friend Jane White.), Anonymous Donor (in memory of D. R. Smithson), Anonymous Donor (in memory of Marite Clifford), Anonymous Donor (Keep up the good work! You all inspire many!!!), Anonymous Donor (Let's go Muse!), Anonymous Donor (Love The Muse, thanks!), Anonymous Donor (MUSE sent my wonderful, talented cousin, Beth Williams, on her path to success!), Anonymous Donor (roster and baseball emoji), Anonymous Donor (The Muse gave me so much. Let's all give back today), Anonymous Donor (The Muse helped my brother find an agent!), Anonymous Donor (You're awesome-forge on!)
