Friday, February 14, 2025

Ohio Theatre hosts LISC’s Spotlight on Community Development fundraiser

Fun under the big top isn’t just for kids. In fact, an upcoming circus-inspired event scheduled at the Ohio Theatre on Thursday, October 22 is targeted at young and not-so-young adults. LISC, the Local Initiatives Support Organization, the annual Spotlight on Community Development fundraising event’s sponsor, is hoping Toledoans and friends will come for the entertainment, but leave with information about the work done by this neighborhood support group.

Kimberly Cutcher, Executive Director of LISC, explains that the group supports neighborhoods, saying “We work with members of a community to help them decide how they want to use their space in the 21st century. We work on developing creative place-making strategies. We help target ideas, then build momentum among groups who can help with revitalizing the neighborhood.”    

Location, location, location

The choice of the Ohio Theatre for this fundraiser is purposeful. The Theatre is located in the LISC’s target community of the Cherry Street Corridor, and its rebirth is a success story for LISC.

“The people in the neighborhood wanted to support the theatre and use it as a site for productions and arts education, among other things. The theatre couldn’t support itself to provide those things, so we provided recoverable grants to operate and support it. We brought several local groups together, including the Arts Commission, the Toledo Symphony, The Toledo Ballet, the Opera, as well as United North, and they all worked together to provide opportunities in the neighborhood,” said Cutcher.

She continued, “The goal is to encourage alliances in the communities and to develop diverse leadership. We help develop business plans and work to establish and support active business corridors. We visit other cities to see how they do it, and bring the best ideas back to Toledo.”

Party atmosphere

Magician Martin Jarret,  the first director of LISC, will be doing up-close magic tricks during the cocktail hour. He will use his 35 years of experience to do tricks with cards for small groups of guests, getting them in the mood for the local circus group, Birds Eye View Circus, and SpokenToledo, whose participants will talk about why the work of  LISC is important.

“The Big Top event will be fun as well as relevant,” promised Ms. Cutcher.

Program from 6-7:30pm, $50. Entertainment 7:30-9pm, $10 at the door
Historic Ohio Theatre at 3114 Lagrange Street
Tickets are available for $50 by calling LISC at 419 242-3836
RSVP online

Fun under the big top isn’t just for kids. In fact, an upcoming circus-inspired event scheduled at the Ohio Theatre on Thursday, October 22 is targeted at young and not-so-young adults. LISC, the Local Initiatives Support Organization, the annual Spotlight on Community Development fundraising event’s sponsor, is hoping Toledoans and friends will come for the entertainment, but leave with information about the work done by this neighborhood support group.

Kimberly Cutcher, Executive Director of LISC, explains that the group supports neighborhoods, saying “We work with members of a community to help them decide how they want to use their space in the 21st century. We work on developing creative place-making strategies. We help target ideas, then build momentum among groups who can help with revitalizing the neighborhood.”    

Location, location, location

The choice of the Ohio Theatre for this fundraiser is purposeful. The Theatre is located in the LISC’s target community of the Cherry Street Corridor, and its rebirth is a success story for LISC.

“The people in the neighborhood wanted to support the theatre and use it as a site for productions and arts education, among other things. The theatre couldn’t support itself to provide those things, so we provided recoverable grants to operate and support it. We brought several local groups together, including the Arts Commission, the Toledo Symphony, The Toledo Ballet, the Opera, as well as United North, and they all worked together to provide opportunities in the neighborhood,” said Cutcher.

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She continued, “The goal is to encourage alliances in the communities and to develop diverse leadership. We help develop business plans and work to establish and support active business corridors. We visit other cities to see how they do it, and bring the best ideas back to Toledo.”

Party atmosphere

Magician Martin Jarret,  the first director of LISC, will be doing up-close magic tricks during the cocktail hour. He will use his 35 years of experience to do tricks with cards for small groups of guests, getting them in the mood for the local circus group, Birds Eye View Circus, and SpokenToledo, whose participants will talk about why the work of  LISC is important.

“The Big Top event will be fun as well as relevant,” promised Ms. Cutcher.

Program from 6-7:30pm, $50. Entertainment 7:30-9pm, $10 at the door
Historic Ohio Theatre at 3114 Lagrange Street
Tickets are available for $50 by calling LISC at 419 242-3836
RSVP online

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