I hope you and your loved ones are well this holiday season. While we have much to be thankful for, I write to you with some urgency. WaterFire needs your help now more than ever.
It was New Year’s Eve thirty years ago when we first lit WaterFire. It was a dark and freezing night then and it was also a dark time for the City. I created WaterFire to bring light and celebration to our dark and empty downtown. I hoped to bring everyone together and inspire them with beauty and music to create something magical. Your response of joy and wonderment allowed WaterFire to succeed and your shared stories brought international recognition to Providence, transforming our capital into a destination for millions.
Despite this success, as an entirely free event, you have likely heard that we are struggling financially. As a long-time supporter, we owe you an explanation. The City contributes in-kind and helps with police and the State recognizes our economic importance and contributes about 10% of our budget. For years the bulk of our expenses were covered by corporate sponsors. This worked until the pandemic, which accelerated a long-term trend of businesses closing, consolidating, or moving overseas. Many of our original sponsors no longer exist, have left Rhode Island, or have reduced their presence–decimating our sponsorship support. If we are to continue, we must increase individual contributions from friends like you who love WaterFire.
In this time of increasing division, isolation, and fear, our community needs unifying events like WaterFire more than ever. As we endeavor to grow our community of individual supporters, we need your help more than ever. In these dark days, we all need a little more light.
We are asking you to show up for us, the way WaterFire has supported millions of others over the past thirty years. Please consider making a tax-deductible gift to WaterFire today and help us keep the fires burning! Can we count on you?
On behalf of everyone in our community whose lives will be brightened by your gift, thank you for being a part of the magic. We simply can’t do it without you.
With gratitude and thanks,
Barnaby Evans
Executive Artistic Director
& co-CEO
