GCF’S Arts and Culture Giving Circle grants $80,000
CINCINNATI (March 3, 2018)—Eleven members of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation’s (GCF) Arts and Culture Giving Circle recently granted $80,000 to 10 local nonprofits.
This was the first time GCF has convened a giving circle, which brings together the resources of donors with the resources of the Foundation. In 2017, GCF and its donors together granted $9 million to arts organizations.
“Many of our donors care deeply about the arts,” said Ellen M. Katz, president/CEO. “We wanted to follow their lead, as they selected worthy programs for funding. These organizations are doing inspiring work, and we are thrilled to deepen our connection to the regional arts community.”
Members selected the projects that best increased the number of individuals who have the opportunity to experience the power of the arts through programs that will promote and enhance personal development, art appreciation and quality of life.
“This giving circle was a great opportunity for us to advance the arts in the community,” said Patti Heldman, co-chair. “The arts speak to everybody.”
“I feel honored to have read all the applications and to work with the nonprofits who applied,” said Linda Greenberg, co-chair of the giving circle.
Nonprofits receiving funding:
Activities Beyond the Classroom received $20,000 for the Stages for Youth program, which empowers youth to take a hands-on role in creating their own story, to develop 21st century skills, and open a new path to a brighter future. Over the past 3 years, 100 junior high and high school students have participated in the summer filmmaking program, which produced 21 films, many of them award-winning.
Art Opportunities received $5,000 for Saturday Hoops Creative Placemaking, which is an ArtWorks collaboration with Saturday Hoops that empowers 12 youth to share the transformative power of art with their peers, a community of at-risk youth.
Cedar Village received $5,000 for In the Footlights: An Art & Music Therapy Program for Seniors, which engages nursing home residents in art and music therapy through an original musical production, under the co-direction of music and art therapists.
Clifton Cultural Arts Center received $5,000 for the Art Education for All, which provides scholarships and subsidies the program enables more children and adults in Uptown Cincinnati’s five core neighborhoods (Avondale, Clifton, Corryville, University Heights and Mt. Auburn) to engage in the arts.
Creative Again received $10,000 for the Arts Programming for Seniors program, which brings professional arts and humanities programs to facilities that serve seniors, such as nursing homes, assisted and independent living, senior centers, day programs.
Elementz received $10,000 for relocation and program expansion. Looking at the community need in the arts space, Elementz focuses on using art to encourage and nurture creative skills in teens that for various reasons are not able to access other arts programming in their school or neighborhood, or the programming offered does not seem relevant to them.
Ensemble Theatre received $5,000 for the Hunter Heartbeat Program, which uses Shakespearean text and theatre games to teach social skills to students with autism.
Kennedy Heights Community Arts Center received $10,000 for the Expanding Arts Experiences for Youth program, which provide arts and cultural programs for racially and economically diverse youth ages 5-17 at KHAC and in partnership with public schools, libraries and a social service organization.
Stepping Stones received $5,000 for the Arts Sampler for Adults with Disabilities, which exposes clients to a variety of hands-on arts workshops and classes over a 10-week period. The clients identify their own areas of interest and, in collaboration with local arts organizations, and pursue their varied interests — from drama to visual arts to music to dance.
West End Art Gallery received $5,000 for Artlet Workshops. Through partnerships with West End Art Gallery, Q Kids Dance Group, Cincinnati Film Society, Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses and West End YMCA, art workshops and programming will be made available to provide much needed Artlet to the West End, an undeserved neighborhood in Cincinnati.
Thank you to Giving Circle Members
Special thanks to Giving Circle co-chairs Linda Greenberg and Patti Heldman and members Mary Bonansinga, Sheila Cohen, Beverly Erschell, Bruce Hager, Karen Meyer, Barbara Sferra, Ron and Michael Stibich and Nancy Virgulak.
About the Greater Cincinnati Foundation
One of the nation’s leading community foundations, the Greater Cincinnati Foundation helps people make the most of their giving to build a better community. We believe in the power of philanthropy to change the lives of people and communities. As a community foundation, GCF creates a prosperous Greater Cincinnati by investing in thriving people and vibrant places. An effective steward of the community’s charitable resources since 1963, the Foundation inspires philanthropy in eight counties in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. At the end of 2017, GCF had net assets of $636 million.
