This year's Spotlight on Youth, which took place on Sunday, March 12th at the UF Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, was a huge success both as a performance and as a fundraising event. A record amount was raised to benefit the programs of Corner Drug Store through a combination of sponsorships, donations, ticket sales and a silent auction. In addition, over 200 high school students contributed their artistic talents to the event. Many attendees commented that this was the best Spotlight yet.

Corner Drug Store relies on Spotlight on Youth to help fund its unique range of services to the community. This year the Blue Ribbon Committee, which is the group of volunteers who plan and organize the event, placed an added emphasis on fundraising. This extra work paid off and will directly benefit our community by increasing the resources available for programs such as the Interface Youth Shelters and other prevention activities targeted at our area's youth.

While the Blue Ribbon Committee spent much of its time working on fundraising, it by no means ignored the show, which opened with a spectacular performance by the Alachua County Youth Orchestra. The program continued with a wide variety of acts including Irish dancing, vocal solos and duets, instrumental performances, as well as group dance numbers. One student even performed her own vocal/piano original composition. The most impressive aspect of these on-stage pieces was not their amazing variety, but the astounding level of talent displayed. This was no recital but rather a professional level variety show with something for everyone.

Although much of the action took place on stage, it was almost overshadowed by the outstanding exhibition of student art displayed in the Phillip's Center's upper lobby. The range of subject matter, styles and mediums were practically endless and showed an incredible maturity of talent. In addition to the artwork, poetry written by students was published in the program. This too was proof of the amazing talent in our community.

Before the performance began, a VIP reception catered by local restaurants took place for sponsors and those who purchased $75 sponsor tickets. Following the on-stage performances all artists and spectators were invited to an open desert reception. In addition, a silent auction ran thought the evening.

Corner Drug Store would like to extend a heart felt “Thank you” to everyone involved in Spotlight on Youth including sponsors, donors, volunteers, spectators and artists. We couldn't continue with you!

For further information, please read:

Gainesville Sun feature (3/13/06) on the event here.
Gainesville Sun feature (3/4/06) on participants here.

Perfomers on stage

Painting on display

Sculpture on display