The Molly Copes “Back To The Mountains” Storytelling Festival.  A planned annual event serving as a public relations event and fundraiser in memory of Molly Copes and her commitment to PCHH.

When
June 6-7, 2008…  Friday (7:00 pm – 9:00 pm) and Saturday (10:00 am – 5:00 pm).

Where
On the campus of PCHH at 425 Grayson Road, Wytheville, VA 24382 (Highway 21S).  The 89-acre PCHH campus is located just on the edge of the Town of Wytheville in beautiful Southwest Virginia in the Appalachian Mountains.

Featured Storytellers
David Holt, Sheila Kay Adams, Jim Lloyd, Andrenna Belcher, Mack & Joan Swift.

Planned Activities
Storytellers — Featured storytellers will be performing in two large tents, and a “swapping grounds” area will be provided for attendees to perform their own stories.
Musicians — In addition to the storytellers, student musicians will be performing during breaks between sets and during lunch hour.
Concessions — PCHH will be selling food and church/civic groups will be providing and/or selling specialty items such as ice cream, cotton candy, popcorn, fried apple pies, etc. with proceeds going to the Children’s Home.
Parking — The PCHH campus offers several acres for parking.

Storytelling
Storytelling is the interactive art of using words and actions to reveal the elements and images of a story while encouraging the listener’s imagination.  Storytelling uses words, presents a story, and encourages the active imagination of the listeners.  Storytelling uses actions such as vocalization, physical movement, and/or hand gesture.

The storytelling listener’s role is to actively create the vivid, multi-sensory images, actions, characters, and events—the reality—of the story in his or her mind, based on the performance by the teller and on the listener’s own past experiences, beliefs, and understandings.

The completed story happens in the mind of the listener; unique and personalized. The listener becomes, therefore, a co-creator of the story as experienced.

Storytelling can be combined with other art forms such as costume, music, dance, etc.  The Appalachian Region of VA is rich with traditions, customs, and opportunities to develop a good story.

Why…  Molly Copes
Special people who give their lives helping children are a wonderful blessing themselves. This is an appropriate statement for Molly Copes, a PCHH Board member who passed away in October 2005.

Molly was a beloved board member!

Molly never met a stranger and loved to share the story of the Home every opportunity she had to do so. Her sudden passing saddened our hearts, but Molly gave us many wonderful memories.

Molly enjoyed life!

Molly and her husband Tom hosted fund-raisers in Williamsburg and in their Yorktown, VA home. Molly delighted in using her professional story-telling skills and abilities to entertain groups.  Her personal commitment to the Home included sending each of the honorariums she received from her speaking engagements to PCHH.

Molly was a very busy lady!

Upon her passing, Molly’s family requested that memorial gifts be sent to PCHH. The response was overwhelming.  Gifts arrived from all across the country.  Molly’s impact on the Home even after her death was phenomenal.  Molly Copes touched lives and made a positive difference in the lives of everyone within her reach.  We are so pleased to honor her, and her commitment to the children whose lives she continues to touch!

Thank You, Molly!