Sub Pop & The Vera Project Challenge Seattle to Raise $ for Something Other Than Fireworks

The good folks at Sub Pop, fresh off of the label's twenty-second birthday last month, have decided to act like responsible grownups and take care of local music youngsters.  To that end, they just donated $15,000 to non-profit all-ages venue The Vera Project, and have challenged the people and businesses of Seattle to come together and raise another $10K to help the Vera reach their spring fundraising goal of $25,000 by May 15.

This isn't the first time Sub Pop have put their money where their mouth is: just last summer, they donated $10,000 to the Northwest Film Forum to help the the arts organization close its $70,000 budget shortfall.

Speaking about this latest donation, Sub Pop's Megan Jasper said, "It's through artistic expression that we discover who we are as individuals and who we are as a community.  When young people have the freedom for this type of exploration, anything is possible.  They end up making music, opening music venues, becoming djs and working at record labels, and in doing so they change the world.  We feel so proud to support the Vera Project."

To which Monica Martinez, a Vera Project volunteer member replied, "Sub Pop and Vera both emerged from Seattle's homegrown, grassroots music scene, and both have grown into stable and thriving local institutions. Sub Pop's pledge will help Vera cultivate the future of Seattle’s music and arts scene."  Get a room, you two!

Donating to the Vera has its perks: 

Vera will show its appreciation to those who pledge $300 and up by mounting their name on a gold 7" record inside Vera's venue; those who pledge $1,000 and up receive a gold LP record.

Plus, the Vera is listing the names of spring fundraising drive donors, updated every so often.  I see names of people I know!  They are famous!  (And the Vera's recent web redesign is most excellent.) 

Come on now, surely this is a better use of money than, say, $500,000 for an ephemeral smoke and light show?  (Yes it is, and don't call me Shirley.)  Step up, Seattle; it's for the community and it's for The Children.