Sea-Adelines Education Endowment Fund
It had long been a dream of Teresa McCafferty and Anna Chamberlain—longtime friends and members of Unplugged (2005 7th Place International Quartet Medalists)—to implement a quartet endowment fund for North Pacific Region 13. After considerable work and research, a new endowment fund was established in 2004 to provide financial support for the promotion, education and development of quartet singing in the barbershop style within North Pacific Region 13.
Monies from the Fund (disbursements are made only from investment income) are issued as grants to quartets. The goal of the Fund is to support coaching for quartets in remote areas of Region 13 and award scholarships to such events as SET, Harmony College NW, and Queen’s College! As the Fund grows and becomes more bountiful, the reach will be expanded to include hosting workshops and granting individual scholarships to educational events.
The Fund has five Trustees--chosen for two-year terms with input from the Regional Management--and also consults with a financial advisor. For more information about the Fund, how to donate, how to apply and some history about The Sea-Adelines, please read on!
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The Sea-Adelines Quartet formed early in 1959 and set high goals from the start. Quartet members included (photo left, l-r) Shirley Alfonso Humann, Jamel Hassen Barden, Katie Schwarzhans and Zoe Thompson.
Jamel Hassen Barden, lead, belonged to Puget Sound Chorus. She was a cheerleader in both high school and in college, where she attended the University of Washington. Jamel worked as a stewardess for United Airlines for two years, then went into teaching at the high school level.
Baritone Katie Schwartzhans also sang with Puget Sound Chorus, as did Shirley Alfonso Humann, the tenor. Katie was a stay at home mom, caring for four children, while Shirley was a secretary at Boeing.
Zoe Thompson, bass, sang with Lakeside Chorus. She taught primary grades, and later went on to direct Lakeside for 25 years. Zoe served as Sweet Adelines international president from 1971 to 1973. She is also a Certified Judge Emeritus in the Sound, Expression and Showmanship categories, a frequent emcee for area shows and events, and one of the charter trustees of this Fund.
These ladies entered their first contest in April of 1959, winning in the regional contest in 1960. The Sea-Adelines took 9th place at International in Detroit in 1960, and 3rd place in Colorado Springs in 1961. In 1962, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, these four women were crowned Queens of Harmony, the first quartet from our region to achieve such an accomplishment.
In fact, it was a year of firsts for The Sea-Adelines, as well as Sweet Adelines International: the international convention was held outside of the United States for the first time; a new judging system was in place and the contest was judged by an all-Sweet Adeline panel; and for the first time, the American Society of Composers, Author and Publishers (ASCAP) presented individual trophies to the Sweet Adelines quartet champions.
The foursome continued performing until 1964, two years after winning the championship in Toronto.
North Pacific Region 13 is proud to name our Endowment Fund after this ground-breaking quartet from our area.
Special thanks to Regional Historian, Jody Allen, for her help with the information and photographs on this page!
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How to donate
The Fund welcomes donations from individuals, quartets, choruses, or a group of friends. You can donate in honor or memory of someone you love. Or donate a percentage of your show profits, a percentage of your CD sales, or part of your Valogram proceeds. Donate the funds raised by one of your Silent Auction Items specifically designated for the benefit of the SAEEF. Hold a special fundraiser within your chorus. Pass the hat at a designated rehearsal. Donate in recognition of a job well done for outgoing management team or board members, or for others who do special things for your chorus. Have a donation box at your chorus shows and events. Donate because you love singing barbershop, you love being a Sweet Adeline and you love being involved with Region 13. This is your opportunity to secure the future of excellence in Region 13!
Remember, SAEEF is a non-profit organization and as such, donations to the fund can be tax-deductible. When requested, tax receipts will be issued to you. Do you work for a company that has a Matching Funds Program? As a 501-(c)3 organization, we qualify for Matching Funds programs.
Donations should be made payable to: Sea-Adelines Education Endowment Fund and can be mailed to:
Sea-Adelines Education Endowment Fund
19706 41st AVE NE
Lake Forest Park WA 98155
If you have any questions about the Sea-Adelines Education Endowment Fund, please feel free to email us.
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Applying for Endowment Funds
Awards from the Sea-Adelines Education Endowment Fund are disbursed as grants to quartets. General disbursements are made only from investment income; the principal is not disbursed unless funds were donated specifically for immediate distribution.
Limited funds are currently available for interested quartets. For an application, please click here (PDF). If you have any questions, please contact the Trustees.
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