It wasn’t long ago that theater buff Neil Garvey was writing theater reviews for Buffalo Rising. Neil was a super reliable and enthusiastic writer who was a pleasure to work with and added so much to this site. Unfortunately Neil recently passed away (read more) leaving us completely unexpectedly after we thought that he was going to recover after being ill. Since that time I have often thought about Neil, and miss his lively banter in our email volleys.
That’s why I was so happy to hear that a foundation had been set up, called the Neil E Garvey Foundation for the Arts, by friends and family of the local theater legend. It was Neil’s driving and relentless passion for local theater and the arts that spurred him on to rally for the culturals. Having a voice such as Neil’s gave the arts community a real champion, and in his absence there has been a void that needed to be filled. Thankfully, that void is now being filled and on July 26 – the cultural community will be able to give back to Neil and Buffalo by attending a fundraising initiative designed to reignite the fire that Neil lit under our feet many years ago.
Here’s the info that you need to know:
To properly introduce the Neil E. Garvey Foundation for the Arts, we are proud to announce our first fundraising initiative, the Midsummer Night’s Picnic! This event will take place at The Marcy Casino in Delaware Park on July 26, 2012, starting at 5pm. Join us for plenty of food, drinks and a celebration of the arts in Western New York. More information can be found at www.neilegarveyfoundation.com and tickets may be purchased by calling the Shakespeare in Delaware Park offices at (716) 856-4533. email: negfoundation@gmail.com