Volunteers and desserts needed for the 2013 Spotlight Awards

We’re officially counting down to the Spotlight Awards, our major fundraiser of the year, and it’s going to be a fabulous evening!

Thank you to all of you who have offered to help. From backstage to cast parties and more, we appreciate all you do to help make the Patel Conservatory one of the best places to study the performing arts!

The Spotlight Awards started just three years ago as a way recognize the efforts of all our students, parents, volunteers and partners. In our first year, we exceeded expected attendance with 300 people. Last year, we reached more than 500 attendees.

Last year's cake, baked and provided by
a Patel Conservatory parent.

This year, we expect more than 750 people in attendance at the Spotlight Awards! We’re so thrilled with how much this event has grown.

But that also means we’ll need all the help we can get!

In keeping with the Spotlight Awards tradition, Patel Conservatory parents will be providing dessert for the evening.

Volunteers are also needed to set up, work during the event and help clean up.

This year we will use Perfect Potluck to make it easy for all volunteers to sign up.

If you would like to bring dessert or volunteer for the event, simply click here to put your name beside where you’d like to help.

For questions or more information, please contact parent volunteer Kim Bolton at 352-678-2620 or kbolton4211@yahoo.com.

Support the 2013 Spotlight Awards

Planning is under way for the 2013 Spotlight Awards!

Now in its third year, the Spotlight Awards is the Patel Conservatory’s end-of-the-year awards show. It’s like our very own Oscar night, complete with a red carpet, fabulous performances and awards for outstanding achievements. Save the date!

2013 Spotlight Awards

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Show begins at 6:30 p.m.

Dinner and dancing begin at 8 p.m.

The Spotlights Awards celebrates the 2012/2013 Patel Conservatory season with highlights from our shows in dance, theater and music. This year’s show will be directed by our dance department chair, Peter Stark, and the event will include dinner and dancing after the show.

The Spotlight Awards is also a fundraiser to help us continue in our mission of providing excellence in performing arts education.

In order for this event to be a success, we need the support of our parents and students, and that’s where you come in!

Here are ways you can get involved...

Sponsor the event!

Help us reach our fundraising goal by becoming a sponsor. Sponsorships start at $1000 and include reserved seats for the show and a VIP table for the dinner.

Volunteer!

Pre-event volunteers:

• Volunteers needed to distribute information in TECO lobby at all upcoming shows, including The Music Man Jr. and The Good Doctor.

Fundraising needs:

• Seek sponsorships from parents and businesses. (Parents can pool their resources and share a sponsorship.)
• Help secure donations, including printing services for the event program.
• Buy a Dedication ad to congratulate your performer.
• Donate auction items of large value, such as a stay at a resort, waterfront condo or cabin in the mountains, VIP box seats for sporting or concert event, Family 4-pack to a theme park, etc. All auction items should be valued at $500 or more. 

Event needs: 

• Paper products (Purchase or get donated)
• Drinks (Purchase or get donated)
• Desserts (Purchase or get donated)
• Event day set up and clean up 

Help us celebrate the exceptional level of talent at the Patel Conservatory by becoming involved with this event in support of the Patel Conservatory’s performing arts classes, outreach and scholarship programs.

If you would like to be a sponsor or volunteer for the 2013 Spotlight Awards, please contact Beth Miller at 813-222-6425 or elizabeth.miller@strazcenter.org.

Mark your calendars for the 2012 Spotlight Awards

Ladies and Gentleman, the 2012 Spotlight Awards are approaching!

Mark your calendars for a fabulous evening of awards and entertainment on May 23, 2012.

Like our very own Oscar night, the Spotlight Awards will recognize outstanding students, pay tribute to our graduating seniors and honor our Community Partners.

The evening also features performances from our talented students and highlights our year in the performing arts!

Proceeds from the Spotlight Awards will support all of our classes and programs,including  many outreach programs that bring the performing arts to thousands of children in our community.

Support this event

You can support the Spotlight Awards in the following ways:

• Buy a Dedication Ad
Send a personal message to your favorite Patel Conservatory student for a job well done this year. Prices are $50 for a quarter-page ad or $75 for a half-page ad. To purchase an ad, contact Sharon McDonald at 813.222.1037 or sharon.mcdonald@strazcenter.org

• Attend the Spotlight Awards
Tickets are now available. The cost including dinner and the awards show is $20 before May 9, $25 as of May 10. Click here for tickets or call 813.229.STAR.

• Sponsorships start at $1,000
Sponsorship provides critical support for classes, scholarships and outreach programs of the Patel Conservatory. For more information, contact Sharon McDonald at 813.222.1037 or sharon.mcdonald@strazcenter.org

• Event Logistics
Assist the Booster Club in preparing for the event through restaurant recruitment, donations, event day set-up and more. To volunteer for the event, contact Kim Bolton at kbolton4211@yahoo.com.

Enter to win our a gift tree filled with over $1,000 in prizes!

Help the Patel Conservatory Booster Club reach for the stars!

The Booster Club has put together a holiday drawing that will support our classes and programs. Enter to win a holiday tree filled with gift cards for you to keep or give away as Christmas gifts.* That's right, if you are the lucky winner, you'll get the whole tree worth more than $1,100 in prizes!

Prizes include a 2 night vacation, gift cards for Carrabba's, Shula's Steakhouse, Mary Kay, private ballroom dance lessons and MORE!

Tickets may be purchased for $5, or three tickets for $10.

The winner will be announced in December.

All proceeds go directly to our classes and outreach programs.

Check out the gift tree in the TECO lobby, and get your raffle tickets from the Patel Conservatory library!

For questions, please email Kim at kbolton4211@yahoo.com.

*Tickets for our drawing are considered a donation to the Patel Conservatory. No purchase necessary to win.

Booster Club meeting Nov. 10

Please join us Thurs., Nov. 10 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. for the first meeting of the 2011/12 Patel Conservatory Booster Club.

The meeting is an informal way to get to know other parents/volunteers, and is open to anyone interested in helping us promote our classes and programs.

We’ll discuss preliminary ideas for the annual fundraiser of the Patel Conservatory (the Spotlight Awards) set for May, 2012. We’d also love to hear your opinions and ideas.

Whether you take classes, or have a child in dance, music or theater classes, please come find out more about our Booster Club!

To be sure we have enough space, please take a second to RSVP on our Facebook page, or call 222-6419.

See you then!

Booster Club news

The next meeting of the new Patel Conservatory Booster Club will be this Thursday, June 23 at 6 p.m.

Anyone interested in joining this volunteer organization to support and promote Patel Conservatory programs and classes is welcome to attend. We’ll be planning for the upcoming 2011/12 season.

RSVP to Beth at elizabeth.miller@strazcenter.org.

Booster club news

The next meeting of the new Patel Conservatory Booster Club will be Tues., April 19 at 6 p.m.

Anyone interested in joining this volunteer organization to support and promote Patel Conservatory programs and classes is welcome to attend.

T-Shirt sales

In anticipation of the upcoming Spotlight Awards, the Booster Club is selling Patel Conservatory t-shirts! Wear them to rehearsals, volunteering backstage or just hanging out! They are $10 each and order forms are available in the library. Once ordered, they usually only take a few days to arrive.

Program Ads (due April 25)

Support arts education by purchasing an ad in the event program for the upcoming Spotlight Awards. All proceeds from the event go directly to the programs, outreaches and classes at the Patel Conservatory.

If you know of anyone interested in supporting the Spotlight Awards with a donation or program ad, please contact Beth Miller at elizabeth.miller@strazcenter.org.

Booster Club events

If you have ideas for future events and activities, please email Beth Miller at elizabeth.miller@strazcenter.org.

Join the Patel Conservatory Booster Club

Thanks so much to all the parents who attended the first meeting of the new Patel Conservatory Booster Club, and to those who've already signed up to help! We had a very enthusiastic showing at our first meeting, with some really great ideas and feedback!


The Booster Club is a group of volunteers who support the mission and programs of the Patel Conservatory. The Booster Club is currently assisting with the planning of the Spotlight Awards next spring. Sponsorships are available for this event.

If you are interested in offering your time or talent, please email Kim Bolton at kbolton4211@yahoo.com.