The Shadow
CLIFTON FORGE — Appalfolks of America Association has launched its annual Giving Tree Fund Drive that will end on Wednesday, Jan. 1.
“Our board of directors approved our annual fund drive at our December meeting, and 100 percent of the donations AAA receives will be used in support of our programs and the restoration of the WXCF Radio Studio Building and its operation that we hope will open soon as Appalfolks of America Recordings,” said M. Ray Allen, Appalfolks president and founder.
Appalfolks received the Historic Stonewall Theatre on Dec. 20, 1991, as a charitable donation from Irwin R. Cohen, spent 12 years restoring the theatre to a fully functioning performing arts theatre that featured a professional dance studio on the top floor, and donated the theatre to the town of Clifton Forge in 2003.
By the time the theatre was donated, Appalfolks had made more than $200,000 worth of restoration improvements including new furnaces, new air-conditioning, new heat pumps, new stage curtains, new counter-weight system for raising and lowering scenery, new flooring in the lobby, repairs to the stage, new carpeting and painting inside, addition of equipment to render the theatre ADA compliant and a new coat of paint outside.
“Now that AAA has left the Historic Masonic Theatre and established its new headquarters at the WXCF Radio Studio Building with 103.5 Big Country serving as the new home of The Virginia Opry, we face the same kind of restoration project that we had during the 12 years we owned and operated the theatre,” Allen observed.
Appalfolks has completed phase one of its six phase operation to turn the WXCF radio station building into Appalfolks of America Recordings which will double as the headquarters for Appalfolks
“Not one penny of the funds we receive will be used to pay anyone’s salary because Appalfolks is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is run by volunteers, Allen said, “and if you compare our administrative costs to other non-profit organizations, you will find that AAA’s cost is less than all others due to the volunteerism aspect of our business model.”
Also, STARS (Special Theatrical Artists Revue and Showcase), an Appalfolks program, will complete its 23rd performance season at the Historic Masonic Theatre on Sunday, Dec. 22, at 3 p.m.
Appalfolks founded the program in the Historic Stonewall Theatre as an outreach for those who face intellectual challenges or struggle to overcome physical disabilities. Currently, Appalfolks has signed a contract with the Historic Masonic Theatre to designate STARS as a home program for the theatre.
Appalfolks’ Virginia Opry has been commended by both the town of Clifton Forge and The Virginia General Assembly for its economic and cultural contributions to the town of Clifton Forge. The Virginia Opry completed its 28th consecutive performance season in October.
“We are mailing letters to solicit donations while using social media to request the funding necessary to complete our six phase project, and we will be writing grant proposals as well to achieve our goal that is certain to help students learn about the recording industry and develop skills necessary for producing professional sound recordings,” Allen added.
“Those who wish to help Appalfolks achieve its goal can contribute by making checks payable to Appalfolks of America and mailing them to Appalfolks of America, P.O. Box 613, Clifton Forge, Va., 24422,” Allen concluded.
