Local musicians sing for charity
By Catherine Brown, Reporter

  On Friday, Dec. 7, the Vashon community held its fifth annual “Will Sing for Vashon” event, a holiday music performance designed to help support island nonprofit organizations.
  During the event, all audience members received envelopes for cash or check donations to an organization of their choosing. More than 20 island-based nonprofits were listed on the envelope, with additional space for islanders to write in any organization that didn’t appear.
  In between musical acts, a member of each nonprofit gave a two-minute speech to the audience about the organization and how donations would assist their cause.
  The performance was particularly beneficial to these philanthropic organizations.
  “We’ve never gotten this great of a response from nonprofits,” event co-creator Allison Shirk said. “I love the idea of all the nonprofits coordinating together and raising money together for the benefit of the whole island.”
  This year the event raised over $4,400.with the largest percentage of donations going to the DOVE Project and Journeymen
  Over the years, “Will Sing For Vashon” has become such a popular event on Vashon that it consistently sells out. This year, the growth in attendance required a new space, and the organizers moved to the Vashon Center for the Arts (VCA) from their previous location at the Red Bike.
  “We had outgrown the venue at the Red Bike,” Shirk said. “It was crammed, packed in there, and this [new] venue is triple the size, which is great.”
  The event’s diversity of performers has also grown.
  “You see world-class performers and then the people who just have a big heart,” Shirk said. “It makes for a good mix.”
  This year, 24 acts performed. Some island favorites returned to the event, including the Parker-Stanczak family, who performed “Present Face.” Several groups also made their “Will Sing For Vashon” debut.
  Since moving to VCA, the number of interested performers has greatly increased, as many musicians wish to play in the venue. While the event does have a limited number of performers, anyone was welcome to sign up.
  “We try to cut it off [at] around 20, but then [end up] taking in a few more because we don’t want to turn anyone away who’s willing to give us their time,” Shirk said.
  Every musician who comes to play music or sing for the audience brings a new experience.
  “Seeing that all through the evening, musicians partnering up with each other, creating something you’ll never be able to see again, you never know how its gonna go or how its gonna do,” Shirk said.
  ”A great night of Island music and good causes,” community member Richard Rogers said. “It was truly a Vashon event!”