Spring Good Things!

So many good things have been happening of late! We are so happy to share all these wonderful things with you! Be sure to send your love to all these folks!

• Congratulations to one of our newest board members, Andrew Fine and his newly minted fiance, Debi Ou-Yang! Welcome to the Monkeyhouse family, Debi!
• Congratulations Josh Bergasse on your TONY nomination for Best Choreography for your work on On The Town!
• Congratulations to our interns, Connor, Isabella, Emma and Jacob, who recently performed in Our Town at Natick High School!
• Congratulations to Brianna Unsworth on her new job with Zehren & Associates in Colorado! We are so excited for you and we will miss you at our weekly Musings!
• Congratulations Michael Krolak on your acceptance to the Master's program in Software Engineering at Oxford University!
• Congratulations to our friends at the American Tap Dance Foundation on a beautiful performance at Rhythm in Motion. A giant shout out to our friends Felipe Galganni, Lynn Schwab, Michelle Dorrance, Jason Samuels Smith, Derick K. Grant and of course, Tony Waag for their work! 
• Congratulations to Sarah Feinberg who will be studying with Pilobolus this summer!
• Congratulations Kim Holman on your acceptance to the Master's program at Goddard College!
• Board Member Margaret Hagemeister published her first review with Events Insider!  Huzzah!
• Former Board Member Jon Schaffrath and his wife Kristin are expecting!
• Super woman supporter Heather Gant just finished her MBA in healthcare management! Hooray!
• Congratulations to Jim Peerless for completing Boost VC's incubator, Tribe 5!

Getting to Know the Board: Jon Schaffrath

by Caitlin Meehan

I "virtually" talked with our board member Jon Schaffrath and discussed his experiences so far in fundraising and organizing.

C: So you are a member of Monkeyhouse's board- what has your experience been like so far?

J: It has been great!  I had the opportunity to join the board a little over three years ago as the organization was celebrating the 10th Anniversary and looking forward to how it will sustain itself and continue to exceed expectations into the future.  Going to meetings to discuss the strategy for the organization is always inspiring and it is very fulfilling to know that I (as a non-artist, but big appreciator) am able to contribute in some way to such impressive and meaningful work.

C: We are glad to have such enthusiastic support! Have you been on the board of another arts or dance organization before? (If so, how was it different?)                     
J: I have not been on the board of another dance organization, but I am involved with the GOLD Board at Boston College (Graduates of the Last Decade) and have had significant volunteer experiences at the Dover Church, and Babson College.  For each of these organizations I have enjoyed being able to have an impact on the direction of the organization moving forward.

C: I know that you are working with Harvard Business school now- what would you say drew you to nonprofit fundraising?

J: I kind of fell into nonprofit fundraising seven years ago when I landed an entry level job at HBS.  I have had the good fortune to move up in the fundraising tract of the organization and really loved it.  In addition to my work at HBS I now also am an instructor of fundraising at Boston University Metropolitan College and at the Harvard Extension School.  For me I love connecting people with the organization, inspiring individuals to have a real impact with their philanthropy and building deep relationships with those people.

C: It's fortunate for us that you discovered your inspirational and fundraising skills and continue to apply them! Thank you for giving us some Monkeyhouse Board insight!