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Donate

Help make bam! FESTIVAL happen

Your support makes the BAM!  Festival possible. Donations of $100 or more are tax deductible.

Make a One-Time Contribution

or

Make a Recurring Contribution
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Want to donate your time instead? Volunteer with us!

BAM! Festival’s mission is to provide a county-wide literary experience that brings together authors, teachers, students, families, and the community to share their love of books which will in turn promote literacy, encourage fellowship through education, exercise young minds with discussion, and inspire youth to reach high.

Comission Chambers (22).jpg
Comission Chambers (22).jpg

What could your Donation do next?

  • Sponsor an author/guest to a school in need

  • Start BAM! Festival's first scholarship fund, enabling a child to attend college and become the first BAM Festival scholar

  • Provide free books to Title I schools

  • Sponsor a presenter to the PACE Center for Girls

  • Sponsor art supplies for next year's street painting festival for aspiring young artists

  • Sponsor a writing workshop for aspiring teen and child authors

  • Sponsor transportation to next years event from Title 1 schools

  • And much more!

A BAM! fESTIVAL STORY

In 2018, one of our authors returning this year, Paul Griffin, found a shy child in the crowd that had written a poem that BAM Festival's writing workshop had inspired her to write. She was soft spoken and in awe that an author had taken such interest in her writing.

At the beginning of the day, this child hid behind Paul as she followed him from panel to panel; by the end, she was nothing short of exuberant with an entire pack of authors surrounding her, encouraging her. At the BAM! Festival Jam with Jeff Zentner and Tyler Whitesides, she was invited to go up on stage and read her poem to the crowd. She did, and it was transformative. Upon finishing, she jumped out of the spotlight and returned to her tribe of authors who all applauded her. Those smiles and joyous tears of hers are something the BAM! Festival Fam will never forget. Because that's what we are, a family.

 

Stuff like this happens every BAM! Festival, many times, with many children. They discover their voice for the first time. They discover a productive way to express themselves, to escape, to inspire. They find a community to feel safe in, an author that encourages them, and a character that makes them feel found. 

We provide all of this to the public for free. There are no tickets. We do this because we think every child, no matter their situation, should be able to access these opportunities. 

 

Every little bit counts. Every few dollars could get another book into a child's hand who before had never owned one, another author to a school that otherwise couldn't afford one, make another difference in a young life. These are lonely times, and to help deliver inspiration, motivation, and representation to children and teens during this time is ESSENTIAL to their development and mental health. Help us reach as many as possible. 

 

We continue to do what we do thanks to generous supporters like you.

We are so grateful for you! 
BAM Story
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