Dear Friend,
I am excited to write to you this year on behalf of the board of directors at Miller Rothlein. As I sit at my desk, I feel like I am writing a letter home to friends and family. If only we were sitting in the same room. I smile as I type this note–genuinely excited about the direction of Miller Rothlein and eager to continue our journey with you: our supporters and companions in art. There has been so much progress. We have booked a full season here in Philadelphia, gained new volunteers, and recruited new board members who bring their energies and insights to the company.
You have surely noticed that MIRO is now Miller Rothlein. The changing of the company brand to Miller Rothlein is more than a name change. It is a decided move towards clarifying the mission and passion of our directors and the impetus behind the company’s work. Seven years ago Amanda and Tobin founded a company with the mission to create new work at the intersection of dance and visual art. They had a vision to become a leader in practice based arts education. In concert with our continued creation of new work, we are honoring our vision with an energized and innovative push in the areas of education and research.
What started as a handful of small, yet powerful, partnerships has grown into a comprehensive and symbiotic program that expands the local educational impact and firmly establishes the company’s global reach. Residencies in Cambodia have culminated in deep cultural exchanges with enduring artistic artifacts. Miller Rothlein is truly representing Philadelphia on the international stage. Our board was inspired when Tobin and Amanda presented their plans for the continued work in Cambodia and the implementation of an educational initiative that has developed over the past two years — one that will impact university students locally and nationally. Miller Rothlein, through artistic education and process, will be teaching tomorrow’s leaders to think creatively, work collaboratively, and participate globally
Many ask us each year, “What does Miller Rothlein need? What can I do?” We are a small company making big things happen. Miller Rothlein needs your enthusiasm. We need your financial support and we understand that is no small request.
We appreciate that in today’s challenging economic environment you receive many worthy requests for contributions. On behalf of Miller Rothlein and the members of the board of directors, I want to express our commitment to sustaining the success of this company. We are unified in our intent to keep researching, creating, and educating with the unique brand of art that you have come to know and support. Your gift will help us reach our goals and provide a cultural return on investment that touches audiences, artists, and learners alike.
You have felt the impact of our work, or more specifically, understood the transformative role that dance and creativity can play in one’s life through our shows, workshops, or involvement in our annual Cinco de Miro event. To quote Deb, one of our two-time Cinco de Miro contestants, “Amanda asked me to dance with her, and I said what I always do…’I can’t dance’. Amanda replied, ‘Yes you can. You just did!’ I think it hit me then, as I danced with her, I realized all these other things in my life that I aspired to, I could do those too…something in me had changed.” Deb has been one of our fundraising heroes. Through her participation in our annual fundraiser and through her dedicated commitment to inspiring others to support Miller Rothlein, Deb shines.
Each year, individual gifts like yours have made a specific and noticeable difference in the ability of Miller Rothlein to shine. Your support allows this company to march to its own drummer. We are able make decisions based on careful, long-term, planning and not external trends. Nimbly navigating the ever-shifting funding landscape is one of our regular maneuvers and we, the board, have been quite proud of the decisions that have been made to sustain the company while allowing the directors the freedom to create art that is literally true to form, and move forward–outside the box–in ways that can impact education and community on a scale far beyond the small size of our company.
Your support is mission critical and, in that sense, this year is no different. As we do each year, we thank you and commend you for your commitment to art and education. Please take some time to give us a call or email a note. We’d love to host you in our studios and on our stages. Please continue to join us, and please bring your friends to see how your support benefits the Delaware Valley community, the students at Girard College, and the world of the Performing Arts. With your support, Miller Rothlein’s unique vision will continue to surprise and delight us all.
Sincerely,
Dr. David D. Timony
President, Board of Directors
Please consider giving a tax-deductible donation to Miller Rothlein today.
To donate online, simply use the above link.
To make your tax-deductible contribution by check, please make it payable to “Miller Rothlein” and mail to:
Miller Rothlein
Girard College #160
2101 S. College Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19121
Thanks again for your support.
Kindest Regards,
Amanda Miller and Tobin Rothlein
Artistic Director and Producing Artistic Director
