The LRLR Raise Funds for Behind the Scenes at USITT Raffle

	Bill Sapsis and Lea Asbell-Swanger auction winner of a signed copy of Entertainment Rigging for the 21st Century donated by Sapsis.

The Long Reach Long Riders (LRLR) celebrated their 12th ride with a raffle and live auction to benefit Behind the Scenes during the USITT Conference & Stage Expo in Cincinnati, Ohio last week. Sales of raffle tickets, some key donations, and BTS and LRLR-branded swag raised just over $14,000 for the charity. The LRLR ride starts in Nashville, Tennessee on Sunday, May 31. The riders cover all their own expenses so everything they raise goes to charity. Sponsor a rider today at www.behindthescenescharity.org/lrlr.

Festivities led off with the popular kazoo parade led by Bill Sapsis and many of the LRLR along with previous BTS grant recipient Michael Maag. Following the parade, the board of the PLASA Foundation honored Intelligent Lighting Creations for their commitment to Behind the Scenes and their creative fundraising which engages employees, customers, and vendors in supporting their colleagues in need. Ryan Bundy of ILC accepted the certificate of recognition.

Students representing the USITT chapter at Penn State University made their annual presentation of proceeds from their ongoing fundraising activities and Pledge-a-Product partners Rosco and ETC presented checks from the sales of Roscolux #359 and the iRFR and aRFR apps respectively. A.C.T Lighting became the newest Pledge-a-Product participant with the announcement at the show that they will be donating a portion of the profits from the sales of the new dot2 series of lighting control solutions from MA Lighting.

The auction items saw some lively bidding, particularly the copy of Entertainment Rigging for the 21st Century donated by Sapsis which was autographed by all the authors (one of only two such copies in existence). After a frenzied bidding war, USITT president Lea Asbell-Swanger walked off with the book. Additional auction items were donated by Brad Schiller, IATSE Local One, and Shan and Trish Ayers.

Five minutes before the raffle started, Sapsis announced he would donate up to $1,000 to match the amount raised in last minute ticket sales. There was a flurry of activity as the crowd stepped up and made Sapsis pay out the full amount. The winners and their prizes are:

Andy Gutshall -- Grand prize, Vectorworks Spotlight with Renderworks
Krystal Kennel -- BTS Ghostlight from Altman Rentals
Adam Marshall -- GaffGun and CoreLok Tape from BMI Supply and Production Advantage
Chris Patton -- GoPro from InterAmerica Stage
Ken Tilson -- iPad mini from iWeiss Theatrical Solutions
Bradley Chelberg -- ETC Source 4 mini portable from Musson Theatrical
Larry Schoeneman -- PN 700-7501 Cognito PC/Uno bundle from Pathway Connectivity Solutions
Robert Edmonson -- ProPlus Rope Access Harness from Sapsis Rigging
Katie Hughes -- USITT 2016 Full Conference Registration from USITT
Dan Vilter -- $250 Gift Certificate from Vincent Lighting Systems

Special thanks go to USITT for making the Foundation's presence at the show possible; to Moe Conn, Kim Craigie, Mark Heiser, and Bill Sapsis, for their invaluable help; to the donors of our fabulous prizes; and to all who bought raffle tickets, auction items, and swag.

All proceeds go to the Behind the Scenes charity which assists entertainment technology industry professionals or their immediate family members who are ill or injured.