Local elementary school and award-winning magician host a new fundraiser to improve playground equipment and school grounds.
BELLINGHAM — The Silver Beach Elementary Association brought a new act to town on April 24 with “The Magic of Sterling,” an entertainment show held at Bellingham High School in order to help raise funds for the elementary school’s playground.
For the association’s playground chair, Kim Peterson, it was all about thinking of a fresh approach to fundraising that differentiated from traditional bake sales or cookie dough orders in order to improve the Silver Beach Elementary playground site. The popular gathering area for children currently has unsmoothed grounds and 15 to 20-year-old equipment.
Updating the playground structure does not come at a small price. It costs the association $9,000 to improve the grounds and $15,000-$30,000 for better playground equipment.
After seeing one of his shows, Peterson contacted and organized performance slots with magician Sterling Dietz, 19. The Silver Beach Elementary Association hoped to raise over $5,000 from the shows, which were held at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets were sold for $10 each in a presale and $12 at the door.
“Families and the community can come and get great entertainment,” said Peterson. “If we pack the house, we could think about putting in a new playground structure.”
A promoter of giving back and community service, Dietz, originally from Lynden, Wash., is an award-winning magician who has competed internationally. His most recent travels have taken him to Beijing, Las Vegas and New York City.
Dietz’s credentials include being titled the World Teen Champion of Magic after placing first at the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas in addition to being a member of Magic Castle, the International Brotherhood of Magicians, the Society of American Magicians and the Northwest Ring of Fire. Collectively, he has performed in over 1,500 magic shows and funds four scholarships to high school seniors who are pursuing the arts.
Dietz started his career five years ago after seeing a magician at Bellingham’s local Mount Baker Theater.
“I don’t remember exactly the content of the performance, but I remember the emotions and feelings,” said Dietz. “I remember turning to my dad and saying, ‘This is what I want to do.’”
It was then that Sterling immersed himself into the world of magic. His illusions are mainly self-taught. “I try to do that to make the magic more unusual and unique so that it’s an experience that isn’t seen anywhere else,” said Dietz.
Dietz channels this energy into his performances, which include all different types of magic, ranging from sleight of hand, comedy, grand illusion and audience participation. “This isn’t your average magic show,” said Dietz. “I want to take the audience back to a point in their lives where anything and everything is possible.”
Prior to the show, Dietz said he wanted to make the Silver Beach Elementary performance special by showing that particular audience a special piece. “I’m going to be debuting a new act that I’ll be competing with in a magic competition circuit in upcoming years,” said Dietz. “The show changes so much all the time. People who have seen it before will see new additions to their favorite illusions.”
After “The Magic of Sterling,” the Silver Beach Elementary Association will continue its pursuit to enrich the school by supporting teachers, various academic programs, funds to the library and the playground environment for students.
“If you make these small editions, then you can keep up with the times,” said Peterson. “If the kids play hard, they’ll be much better to sit down and read, do math and focus again.”
