During the height of the COVID pandemic, many non-profits were scrambling and increasingly relying on donations from their communities. One such organization that has become very dear to my heart is Curt’s Cafe.

Curt’s Cafe is a non-profit that runs a workforce and life skills training program for at-risk and underserved young adults aged 15 to 24. Their mission is to help these individuals build paths toward stable employment and long-term success.

They offer a comprehensive three-month training program that covers food service, culinary arts, barista skills, and general operational tasks. Additionally, they provide wraparound social-emotional support, including assistance with high school completion, GED attainment, or college enrollment, along with stipends for supplies during training and ongoing job placement and mentoring post-graduation.

So, how did I get involved?

Word of mouth about my unauthorized Tony special reached the board members of Curt’s Cafe, who were desperately seeking someone to help create a virtual fundraiser. Enter the little engine that could! Armed with minimal equipment—my iPhone and a ring light—I teamed up with board members Tami Loften and Rick Marsh to co-produce, shoot, edit, and direct Curt’s Cafe’s first virtual fundraiser.

It was a challenging journey, and there was plenty of heavy lifting on my part—just ask the memory storage disk on my 13-inch MacBook Pro!

In the end, after much hard work and learning along the way, the fundraiser streamed in the same style as my Unauthorized Tony Award special and raised $10,000 more than we originally anticipated.

I utilized all of my storytelling skills to share the story of Curt’s Cafe and the incredible people who make it special.

I invite you to check it out, be inspired, and if you’d like to make a donation, please visit their website at curtscafe.org.