About Sisters Starry Nights

Sisters Starry Nights was born when major budget cuts due to tax-limiting ballot measures threatened programs at schools across the state in 1996. In this can-do community, concerned parents, school administrators, and community leaders came together to develop the Sisters Schools Foundation's first fundraising event - the Sisters Starry Nights Benefit Concert Series. Organized and staffed entirely by volunteers and co-chaired by founders Susan Arends, Jeri Fouts, and Novella Swisher, the event debuted in 1997 and has been the primary source of funding ever since for the Sisters Schools Foundation.

The event has featured concerts at Sisters High School, with performances graciously donated by such artists as Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Keb' Mo', Lyle Lovett, Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, Kathy Mattea, Rodney Crowell, Karla Bonoff, Kim Carnes, John Hiatt, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Christopher Cross, Lee Ann Womack, Gary Morris, Stephen Bishop, Hal Ketchum, Chely Wright, Kenny Rankin, Nicolette Larson, Jeffrey Steele, Big Al Anderson and Leslie Satcher.

The series has also expanded to special events such as A Starry Summer Night at Aspen Lakes, Love Letters at the Tower Theatre, and intimate concerts at The Belfry in downtown Sisters.

To date, Starry Nights has raised more than $1.5 million to support music, art, drama, science, sports, technology, outdoor school, and more—providing essentials like SMART Boards, textbooks, and library books for Sisters Elementary, Middle, and High Schools. In addition, a portion of the funds raised each year is set aside in an endowment fund that will provide financial stability for Sisters students in the future.

Sisters is a community that has a long history of working in harmony on behalf of children and education. Starry Nights extends its great appreciation to the caring circle of artists, sponsors, and volunteers who have shared its commitment to supporting public education in Sisters!