Bandit Lites is celebrating the holiday season by making significant donations to several local theatre companies. Bandit has offices in Knoxville and Nashville, TN, in addition to branches around the globe.
Bandit started its annual gift giving campaign in 1985, reaching out to local and national organizations. Whether through a monetary contribution to assist with educational scholarships or the donation of slightly used lighting equipment to a university theatre department, the company tries to fulfill as many needs as financially possible.
This year, Bandit has decided to increase its donations of theatrical equipment to the following venues: The University of Tennessee theatre department, Oak Ridge Playhouse, The Actors Co-Op, Bijou Theatre, and Pellissippi State Theatre. All received equipment donations exceeding their requested wish lists. According to a company release, “Bandit not only hopes to meet the needs of these organizations, but to provide that moment of surprise when they receive much more than requested, such as one hundred pieces of equipment arriving instead of the ten they anticipated.”
Bandit Lites has also increased its cash donations in 2002 to over $100,000. According to Bandit’s Michael Strickland, “We started in 1985 with our ‘Toys for Tots’ drive and now are in a position to donate to over 15 charities, from United Way to Emerald Youth Foundation. Our philosophy is, and always will be, one of ‘giving back.’ Luckily, we are in a position to be able to do this.”