GEVA PERFORMANCE RAISES OVER $13,000 FOR “SISTERS' RETIREMENT FUND”

Published February 26, 2013 12:56

According to the National Catholic Reporter, one of the more dramatic issues facing the U.S. church is a growing crisis in unfunded retirement and elderly care costs that religious orders of men and women (mostly women), are facing within the next couple of decades.

Following performances of Sister’s Christmas Catechism in November and December, Geva audiences were invited to give a donation to support retirement funds for nuns. Geva is delighted to announce that over $13,000 was collected in post-show donations. Three retirement funds will share the donation: Sisters of Saint Joseph, Sisters of Mercy and the School Sisters of Notre Dame.                                                                                                                                                               

Geva Theatre Center’s Artistic Director Mark Cuddy commented, “Many forgotten heroes of education are the nuns who selflessly taught us both scholastically and spiritually. These nuns took a vow of poverty and receive no social security benefits upon retirement. The Geva audiences, after laughing all the way through this hysterical show, have generously acknowledged the importance these teachers.”

Actress Colleen Moore's one women shows such as Late Nite Catechism and Sister’s Christmas Catechism have raised more than $2 million for the retirement needs of nuns. Religious orders that have received donations over the years have used the funds to buy handicapped-accessible vans and generally to improve the daily lives of nuns who raised so many to be the good people that they are.

Sister S Check Joseph                                                                                                                                                                         Geva's Mark Cuddy presents check to Sheila Walsh, SSJ (Photo Courtesy: Chris Holden)

GEVA THEATRE CENTER
Founded in 1972, Geva Theatre Center is a not-for-profit, professional theatre company dedicated to creating and producing professional theatre productions, programs and services of a national standard. As Rochester’s leading professional theatre, Geva Theatre Center is the most attended regional theatre in New York State, and one of the 25 most attended in the country, attracting over 170,000 patrons annually, including more than 16,000 students.
The 552-seat Elaine P. Wilson Mainstage offers a wide variety of shows, from musicals to American and world classics. The 180-seat Ron & Donna Fielding Nextstage is home to Geva’s own series of cutting-edge drama, comedy and musical theatre; Geva Comedy Improv; Geva’s New Play Reading Series and the Hornet’s Nest - an innovative play-reading series facilitating community-wide discussion on controversial topics. The Nextstage also hosts visiting companies of both local and international renown.
Geva Theatre Center offers a wide variety of educational, outreach and literary programs, nurturing audiences and artists alike. Since 1995 the organization has been led by Artistic Director Mark Cuddy.

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