For the fifth year in a row Tryon luthier Jay Lichty has donated a handcrafted
instrument for the annual fundraising raffle by LEAF Community Arts Programs.
This year’s raffle features a Lichty tenor ukulele with a unique story. It is crafted
primarily from salvaged materials; oak from the floor of a Carolina mountain cabin,
sinker cedar reclaimed from a bog in western Canada and Honduran mahogany
carved down for the ukulele neck from an antique bedpost. Much like LEAF’s
mission to connect cultures and create community through music and arts programs
locally and globally, this unique ukulele connects “wood cultures” from around the
world into a harmonious community of sound.

“LEAF is an organization lead by great people who are doing great work. We are
happy to do what we can to help raise awareness and to help raise funds.” said Jay
Lichty.
LEAF’s community contributions from 2004-2013 include:
▪ 41,000 + youth served through LEAF Schools & Streets since 2004
▪ Annually providing 40+ programs to over 5,000 participants through LEAF
Schools & Streets.
▪ 900+ youth served through LEAF International since 2006
▪ Currently serving in 10 countries through LI.
▪ LEAF now operates the Easel Rider, a mobile art lab, owned and previously
operated by the City of Asheville’s Parks & Recreation Department. The Easel Rider
serves over 5,000 individuals per year.
100 percent of the raffle funds raised from the annual raffle will go towards LEAF
programming. Raffle tickets may be purchased via phone at 828-686-8742, online at
TheLEAF.org (online sales include a processing fee) or at the LEAF Festival. Total
annual ticket sales are limited to 500 and the winning ticket will be drawn at the fall
festival in Black Mountain, N.C. on Oct. 19. The winner does not have to be present.
Learn more about the raffle, see images of this one-of-a-kind handcrafted ukulele
and hear sound bites at:
· http://lichtyguitars.com/ukulele-raffle-win-a-lichty-ukulele/
· Learn more about LEAF, at http://www.theleaf.org.
– article submitted by Corrie Woods