WHO ARE WE AND WHAT ARE WE DOING?

We were a group of blues lovers who took the next step by getting involved.  For eleven years we worked with Artspace/Lima to produce The Greater Limaland Blues Festival where all monies went directly to ArtSpace.  During those eleven years, we raised over $150,000.00 for them. 

In August of 2002, The Blues Committee, Inc. became a nonprofit organization and Pickle’s Blues Extravaganza was born.  We are a 100% all volunteer group in order that we may maximize our profits.  Our stated goals are to preserve Blues history, support Blues education in the schools, and celebrate Blues excellence through performances.  In the eighteen years we have been producing blues festivals, we have brought 73 blues acts to Lima for the enjoyment of the music and thirteen blues bands to educate the children in our community with our Blues in the School program.

So what do we do with the money now?  We give it away of course.  Shortly after the Extravaganza, all bills are paid, and all but about $3,000.00 is written in two checks to The Lima Community Foundation who takes care of our money.  The $3,000.00 left in our checking account is used for the Blues in the School program the following year.  One of the checks is for The Blues Committee Music Scholarship fund and the other is for The Blues Committee Artists in Residency fund.  In all, we have given or spent on the following programs a little over $110,000.00 raised through Pickle’s Blues Extravaganza! 

The Blues Committee Blues in the School program:

2003

Richard Johnston at North Middle School

2004

Ted Reynolds at South Middle School & St. Gerard

2005

Rev. Robert B. Jones at South Middle School & St. Gerard

2006

The Original Delta Fireballs at South Middle School & St. Gerard

2007

Keith Little at West Middle School & St. Gerard

2008

Gene Walker at North Middle School & St. Gerard

2009

Eric "Joker" Baker at North Midle School & St. Gerard

2010

Thomasina Winslow at North Middle School & St. Gerard

2011

The Original Delta Fireballs at North Middle School & St. Gerard

The Blues Committee Music Scholarship Winners:

2003

David Kaverman, Allison Reed, Wayne Smith, Aubrey Von Alman  

2004

Jordan Zickafoose, Adam Von Alman, Andy Stein, John Itson

2005

Quice Sanders