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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE CRUCIBLE MAKES IT TO A MILLION!

Community rally unlocks $500,000 Kelson Foundation matching grant challenge in record time.

OAKLAND, CA, Feb 5, 2026 — Victory for Oakland’s makers: The Crucible has crossed the $1 million fundraising mark to open 2026, successfully meeting—and surpassing—the Kelson Foundation’s $500,000 matching-grant challenge in just 26 days. Launched in early January with a February 2 deadline, the time-limited challenge inspired more than 70 individuals, companies, and foundations to contribute over $550,000, unlocking the full $500,000 match and propelling The Crucible past the million-dollar milestone at the start of the year.

“This is an extraordinary moment for our community,” said Doug Yeiser, Interim Executive Director of The Crucible. “In less than a month, longtime supporters and brand-new donors came together to meet this challenge. It speaks to the renewed momentum here—and to how deeply people believe in hands-on creative education.”

The Kelson Foundation launched the challenge at the start of January, calling on the Crucible to raise $500,000 by February 2 to unlock an equal match. “The Kelson Foundation is proud to support The Crucible and its vital role in Oakland’s creative ecosystem,” said Jake Moritz, Kelson Foundation Board President. “The community’s response affirmed our belief that access to hands-on arts education is essential, and that this was exactly the right moment to invest.”

This milestone represents a powerful start to the year, accounting for approximately one-quarter of The Crucible’s annual operating budget and providing critical momentum for 2026. Over the past year, The Crucible has stabilized operations, fully unionized staff, increased class enrollment and earned revenue, expanded scholarships, and strengthened youth and workforce pathways—progress that positions the organization for continued growth and long-term sustainability. As The Crucible supports 18 disciplines of industrial and fine arts, this early success lays the groundwork for continued community investment throughout the year.

Special thanks to the Oakland Ballers, whose high-energy visit and hands-on collaboration at The Crucible in late January helped draw attention to the fundraiser during the final stretch of the challenge and showcased how Oakland institutions can come together to spark creativity and community pride.

About The Crucible
Founded in 1999, The Crucible is the nation’s largest nonprofit industrial arts education center, based in Oakland. Serving thousands each year through classes, scholarships, free programs, and paid leadership opportunities, The Crucible makes hands-on creativity accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. Learn more at https://www.thecrucible.org/.

About the Kelson Foundation
The Kelson Foundation supports organizations that expand access to tools, space, and education—uplifting communities through creativity, learning, and opportunity. Learn more at https://kelson.foundation/.

MEDIA CONTACT

Doug Yeiser, Executive Director, The Crucible
510-359-5527
doug.yeiser@thecrucible.org

Sam Felsing
510-381-2772
sam@felsingpr.com

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 26, 2026

Oakland Ballers Head to The Crucible This Week to Shape Opening-Game Attraction Amid $500,000 Fundraising Sprint

WHO
Oakland Ballers leadership and representatives
The Crucible staff artists and fabricators

WHAT
The Pioneer League 2025 Champion baseball team, the Oakland Ballers, will visit The Crucible to explore hands-on industrial arts and fabrication techniques as inspiration for a custom opening-game attraction. Ballers representatives—including team co-owner Paul Freedman—will observe demonstrations in metalworking, construction, and large-scale artistic mechanics that could inform a dramatic game-day feature—such as a lock to unlock home games or a cannon to celebrate home runs. 

The visit comes as The Crucible races to meet a $500,000 challenge match deadline by Feb. 2, making this both a creative collaboration and a timely moment of community support.

WHEN
Tuesday, January 27
9:00 a.m.

WHERE
The Crucible
1260 7th Street
Oakland, CA 94607

VISUALS

• An expansive warehouse filled with glass blowing, metal working, wood working, and more.  
• A specially designed Key to Oakland made for the Oakland Ballers  

WHY IT MATTERS
The Crucible is the largest nonprofit industrial arts education center of its kind in the country. It is currently in the final days of a race to unlock a transformational $500,000 challenge grant from the Kelson Foundation by Feb. 2. The Oakland Ballers’ visit highlights how Oakland-based institutions collaborate—combining sports, art, and hands-on creativity—to create unforgettable public experiences while supporting beloved community anchors.

MEDIA CONTACT
Doug Yeiser, Executive Director, The Crucible
510-359-5527

Sam Felsing
510-381-2772

ABOUT THE CRUCIBLE
Founded in 1999, The Crucible provides instruction in glassblowing, welding, blacksmithing, woodworking, and other industrial arts, serving thousands of students each year while fostering creativity, workforce skills, and community connection.

ABOUT THE OAKLAND BALLERS
The Oakland Ballers are a community-driven independent baseball team built by Oakland, for Oakland, with a commitment to never leave the city. Since launching, the Ballers have invested more than $1.6 million to restore historic Raimondi Park, transforming it into a professional-quality stadium that now serves both fans and the broader community through youth sports, tournaments, and public events. Known for pioneering a new model of fan-centered sports ownership—including becoming the first team to add a fan to its board—the Ballers prioritize civic pride, local partnerships, and joyful experiences for the entire East Bay. 

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