Just a year after getting a much-needed rescue by AT&T, San Jose Jazz is struggling to keep its doors open until the late-summer festival.
But the group's board isn't crying poor to the cash-strapped city. Instead, it hopes the thousands of jazz fans who flock to the festival each year or a company interested in those ears will help close a $120,000 shortfall before June.
And leaders are putting their money where their hopes are. Board members Jan De Carli and Aart DeGeus are putting up $10,000 and $20,000, respectively, for a 3-to-1 challenge grant. They'll contribute $1 for every $3 raised from new donors to San Jose Jazz.
San Jose Jazz board chairman Chris Wilder says this is a period of “powerful vulnerability" for the organization, which provides year-round concerts and educational workshops in addition to the festival.
“We have a track record of the best outdoor event in Silicon Valley, going back 21 summers, and a fantastic festival shaping up for August," he said. “But we're facing an economic crisis hopefully a short-term one."
But the group's board isn't crying poor to the cash-strapped city. Instead, it hopes the thousands of jazz fans who flock to the festival each year or a company interested in those ears will help close a $120,000 shortfall before June.
And leaders are putting their money where their hopes are. Board members Jan De Carli and Aart DeGeus are putting up $10,000 and $20,000, respectively, for a 3-to-1 challenge grant. They'll contribute $1 for every $3 raised from new donors to San Jose Jazz.
San Jose Jazz board chairman Chris Wilder says this is a period of “powerful vulnerability" for the organization, which provides year-round concerts and educational workshops in addition to the festival.
“We have a track record of the best outdoor event in Silicon Valley, going back 21 summers, and a fantastic festival shaping up for August," he said. “But we're facing an economic crisis hopefully a short-term one."
