2011 Service to the Community Award Recipients: Terry and Pat Brett

At a recent event, Camphill Kimberton was pleased to present the 2011 Service to the Community Award to Terry and Pat Brett. 

In the 1980's, Terry and Pat Brett began a much needed cooperative to meet the needs of people in the area wanting wholesome organic food. They also cooperated to create Seven Stars Yogurt production, which allowed the Seven Stars Farm to continue productively, and grew the small farm store across the road from the Waldorf School. Their tireless efforts developed not only a successful business, but also a friendly shop where people could meet and share interests. When the old Kimberton Hardware store became available, they moved there, bringing a lively business to the heart of Kimberton – now known as Kimberton Whole Foods.
Their interest in developing community led them to incorporate a café and many more useful and needed product lines. They sourced locally before it became fashionable, and included Kimberton Hills products from the beginning. To help meet Kimberton Hills' needs, they offered wholesale prices for bulk items, and continue to do so to this day.

As their business expanded, they took it to several area communities, and with those new stores, their vision of wholesome, organic locally sourced (where possible) foods. They collaborate with distributers to create more visibility for good food, and educate their consumers through newsletters, events, and in-store educational materials. They have opened their Kimberton Store for educational and charitable events, and have encouraged good citizenship through their examples, as well. They have led in sustainable areas beyond agriculture -- for instance, in business, ecology, and community building. They can be counted on to help support local charitable, artistic, and educational events, and of course, the efforts to create a more walkable and sustaining community in Kimberton.

Perhaps most people know them most for their incredibly deep work ethic and commitment to doing all they can to meet needs of their customers and community. Luckily they have a family of progeny that has also supported the business and the work it has taken to build and sustain it. They remain people whom one likes to meet when visiting the store-- friendly, interesting, interest-ed, knowledgeable, and deeply committed to living their ideals. They are wonderful people and strong friends of Kimberton Hills, where Terry served on the Board, and a significant power for good in our region.

Terry and Pat, thank you, for all you do in this community and beyond!

Upcoming Events at Camphill Kimberton

Please mark your calendar to join us for the following events:

Saturday, November 5 at 7:30 p.m. - Poetry, Song and Story

Come to the Camphill Cafe for a night of poetry honoring and celebrating the ancestors. Hosted by Dagmar Hoell.  Please RSVP to dirisholl@gmail.com.  Free will donation accepted.  

 

Tuesday, November 8 at 7:30 p.m. - Alash Ensemble

Alash Ensemble, masters of Tuvan throat singing, will present a concert at Camphill Village Kimberton Hills. Be there as this captivating musical ensemble brings the ancient art of throat signing to the Rose Hall stage.

Alash are masters of Tuvan throat singing, a remarkable technique for singing multiple pitches at the same time. Tuvan throat singers can produce two or three, sometimes even four pitches simultaneously. The effect has been compared to that of a bagpipe. 

Masters of traditional Tuvan instruments as well as the art of throat singing, Alash are deeply committed to traditional Tuvan music and culture. At the same time, they are fans of western music. Believing that traditional music must constantly evolve, the musicians subtly infuse their songs with western elements, creating their own unique style that is fresh and new, yet true to their Tuvan musical heritage.

Admission to the concert is $10.  All tickets will be sold at the door on a first-come, first-served basis.

Seating is limited.  The Camphill Cafe will be open at 6 p.m. for light supper and refreshments before the concert. 

Thursday, November 10 at 6 p.m. - An Evening for Kimberton Hills
At this annual fundraising event for CVKH, held at the Kimberton Inn, we will also present the 2011 Community Service Award to Terry and Pat Brett of Kimberton Whole Foods. If you'd like to join us, please contact bernadette@camphillkimberton.org


Sunday, November 13 at 7 p.m. – Recorder Ensemble

Join us for a recorder concert in Rose Hall led by Bob Patyk. Donations accepted.



Friday, December 16 at 7:30 p.m. - Benefit Concert for Chasin' for Chalfin
Chasin’ for Chalfin was established to help Jake Chalfin, who was severely injured when he fell at the Blue Ridge Fall Races in Berryville, Va., on September 18, 2010. As a result of his extensive injuries, Jake is now paralyzed from the chest down and is facing significant long-term expenses associated with his special needs.

Chasin’ for Chalfin, a committe of his close friends and family, is committed to raising $1 million as soon as possible to help Jake with these extraordinary expenses as he tackles the biggest hurdle of his life. 

Camphill Kimberton is pleased to host this benefit concert for our friends, the Chalfin family.  Jake's sister, Julia Chalfin, will perform her American Diva show in Rose Hall.  The show tells how a country bumpkin became a successful international Opera Diva. It is a humorous trip of musical self-discovery through Musicals, Pop, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Jazz and Classical music, in search of the appropriate genre and world fame. The program includes songs from these musical styles and finishes with a series of opera arias. The performance also features Tim Peck, master of the keys. Parallel to Julia´s story, Tim shares how he developed his skills as both a talented classical pianist and free swinging jazz musician.

A reception will immediately follow the concert at the adjacent Camphill Cafe.  

Ticket prices are:

General Admission: $25
General Admission & Reception: $40
Reserved Seating: $45
Reserved Seating & Reception: $60
Patron includes 2 reserved tickets to the show and reception with business logo and /or name on website & program: $250
Contact Sue McElroy for questions about this event, tickets or information. Phone 610-827-1916 or Email:mac942@verizon.net 

Please visit their website for more information and for ticket sales: http://www.chasinforchalfin.com/julia.html.

What a weekend for Camphill Kimberton!

We did it - Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

We are thrilled to announce we have surpassed the goal of the Catherine Marie Todd Matching Gift Challenge. We raised $67,411.27 in gifts of cash and pledges. Thank you!

Because of your generosity, we have also received the matching gift - $50,000 has been contributed by our very generous donor, Clifford Todd, in memory of his sister, Catherine Marie.

We gratefully accepted the donation at a celebration luncheon held at the Camphill Cafe on Saturday, October 15. 
 

Thank you to everyone who made this possible!  And special thanks to Ruben M. for creating this video.

Then on Sunday, October 16 it was time for the 5th Annual Camphill Challenge - a bike ride in support of the three Camphill communities in Pennsylvania: Camphill Kimberton, Camphill Soltane, and Camphill Special School.  Approximately 300 riders participated in the event.  It was an absolutely beautiful fall day for the ride and the picnic that followed.   Thank you to those who supported this collaborative event.

Camphill Cafe closed Saturday, October 15

The Camphill Cafe will be closed on Saturday, October 15 for a private event.  Thank you for your understanding.  We will be open again on Wednesday, October 19.

Main Phone Line Out of Order

Our main phone number - 610.935.0300 - is out of order.  If you need to reach someone in our offices, please call the Development Office at 610.935.8660 and your call will be directed.

Our apologies for the inconvenience.  Thank you for your patience. 

A busy autumn at Camphill Kimberton - join us!

We are looking ahead to the season’s many upcoming events – hope you’ll join us for one or more of them.  Fall is a beautiful time in the village; come for an event, or just lunch and a walk.  Thanks for your continued support!

October 7, 8 p.m., Rose Hall – Dylan Babitch Trio

Come hear this trio’s rebirth! Featuring the music of Dylan Babitch on piano, Ali Bervine on bass, and Mike Mahoney on drums. Tickets are $10 at the door.

October 16, Kimberton Waldorf School – Camphill Challenge

Three Camphill Communities in Chester County -- Camphill Special School, Camphill Soltane, and Camphill Village Kimberton Hills -- will be hosting the fifth annual Camphill Challenge! The Camphill Challenge is a family-friendly bicycling excursion on October 16 amidst gorgeous Chester County autumn foliage, horse farms, and historic homes. Featuring a 50-mile ride for avid cyclists, a moderately challenging 25-mile ride, a 10-mile circuit and also a 1-mile family fun ride to Beaver Farm, the Camphill Challenge is the perfect way to bike for a cause, not just because! The ride begins and ends at the Kimberton Waldorf School and is followed by lunch and music.

For more information on the benefits of becoming a sponsor of the Camphill Challenge or if you are interested in riding in the event, please visit www.camphillchallenge.org or see the attached brochure. This year you have the ability to create your own fundraising page – check it out! There is a reduced fee of just $30 if you register by September 30, and you will also receive a T-shirt! Sponsors must register by September 30 to have their name on the T-shirt.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Bernadette at 610-935-8660, or bernadette@camphillkimberton.org.


November 1, 8 p.m., Rose Hall - About Cleaning and Caring: A talk by Linda Thomas
Finding the motivation to create order and cleanliness in our living and working spaces can be challenging—until you hear Linda Thomas! Linda will be working with the Camphills in our area to teach many of the methods she has learned in her work at the Goetheanum and in her own business. On Tuesday November 1st, she will speak in Rose Hall—don’t miss it. Suggested donation is $10.


November 8, 7:30 p.m., Rose Hall – Alash Ensemble
Join us for a very special concert by Alash, masters of Tuvan throat singing (xöömei), a remarkable technique for singing multiple pitches at the same time. What distinguishes this gifted quartet from earlier generations of Tuvan throat singers is the subtle infusion of modern influences into their traditional music. One can find complex harmonies, western instruments, and contemporary song forms in Alash’s music, but its overall sound and spirit is decidedly Tuvan. Tickets are available at the door, $10. Seating is limited so please arrive early.

“This is some of the most beautiful and haunting music I have heard. If you have not heard them, you have no idea how incredible they are.” — Jeff Coffin of the Flecktones and Dave Matthews Band

“There are plenty of recordings of Tuvan throat singing out there, but they can’t compare to witnessing such sonic magic in real time.” — Washington Post
Visit the Alash website to hear music samples and learn more about Tuvan throat singing: http://www.alashensemble.com/


November 10, Kimberton Inn – An Evening for Camphill Village Kimberton Hills
Save the date for our annual dinner at the Kimberton Inn. This is always a wonderful evening where we celebrate Kimberton Hills and present the Annual Community Service Award to a great friend and supporter.

CVKH Blog: $50K Challenge Deadline: September 30

Camphill Kimberton has been given a wonderful gift - the chance to raise $100,000 for those who live and work in our village.  A friend named Clifford Todd has challenged the Camphill Kimberton community to raise $50,000 in operating funds. If we can raise the first $50,000, Mr. Todd will match it and donate another $50,000. We will only receive his donation if we can raise $50,000 on our own - by September 30.


Read on to learn more about Cliff Todd, and his reasons for giving. 

Betsy Church and her late husband, John, formed a friendship with Clifford Todd (pictured at left) almost 60 years ago. Cliff was with them in the hospital the day their son, Ross, a villager at Camphill Kimberton, was named. “It was an immediate bond,” says Cliff.


As time passes contacts often fade, and Betsy and John lost touch with Cliff for more than 40 years. Betsy’s daughter recently found Cliff via the internet and reconnected the long-lost friends, now in their 80s.

It is a remarkable story of the strength of friendship. However, Cliff’s qualities of loyalty and connection were fostered long before he met the Church family.

Cliff is a twin. He and his sister, Catherine, were born at home. Catherine arrived first and the complications of her delivery left her with a traumatic brain injury leading to developmental disabilities. Cliff was born “normal.”

“We were a poor family with seven children,” says Cliff. As she grew up, Catherine had a number of health issues, including ear problems, but medical attention was not always available or affordable. “When I got my first job, at age 16, I bought her a hearing aid,” he recalls.

This bond of brother and sister surpassed any limitations of disability. “Most people couldn’t understand her, but I could,” says Cliff. “We had our own language.” Catherine lived her final years in a nursing home and would draw back if anyone touched her. “I could touch her,” recalls Cliff. “I could put my hands on her shoulders and she would know it was me.”

After a recent trip to the village to visit Ross, Cliff mentioned that he wished a place like Camphill Kimberton had been available for his twin sister. He told Executive Director Diedra Heitzman that he wanted to leave a legacy gift to the village – a truly remarkable gesture.

Months later, Diedra received another call from Cliff. This time the impact of his generosity would be felt immediately.

Cliff posed a challenge to Diedra: could we raise $50,000 in operating funds? If we are able to raise the first $50,000, he will match it by donating another $50,000.

We will only receive his donation if we can raise $50,000 on our own.

“He really thinks Camphill is a wonderful place,” says his friend, Betsy Church (pictured at left, with her son, Ross). “It was his wish that he could have had a place like Camphill Kimberton for his sister.”

Our charge now is to make it happen. “I always wanted to do something in her name,” says Cliff.

Inspired by this wish and fueled with the generosity of our friends and supporters, Camphill Kimberton will be able to provide a beautiful home -- for others like Catherine Marie Todd, and in remembrance of her.


Double the Impact


We’re off to a great start! At the time of posting, we have raised $39,530 of the $50,000 requirement.

Thank you!

Now it is your turn. This challenge gives you a wonderful opportunity to effectively double the size of your gift, maximizing its impact. This is also a great way involve your family and friends in helping you support Camphill Kimberton. We can customize a personal fundraising plan to help you reach out to your contacts.

Gifts in any amount are welcomed and will help us reach our goal. Consider it this way: $25 will become $50; $250 will become $500. And working together, $50,000 will become $100,000!

To make your contribution to the Catherine Marie Todd Fund and ensure that we will receive the additional $50,000 matching gift, please contact Bernadette Kovaleski at 610-935-8660, bernadette@camphillkimberton.org, or PO Box 1045, Kimberton, PA 19442. Please memo your contribution "Todd Fund."

You may also make an online gift by clicking the Donate Now button below.

Thank you for your continued support!