KPMG’s Family for Literacy and CPS Arts Education Office Named Inaugural Recipients of One Fund Corporate and Arts Education Awards

emeraldcityAfter three years of awarding free books and free theatre performances to low-income CPS schools, Emerald City Theatre will award its inaugural One Fund Corporate Award for showing significant and outstanding support of the One Fund and One Fund Arts Education Award fordemonstrating actions that have made significant impact in Arts Education within Chicago Public Schools.

The One Fund Corporate Award will be given to KPMG’s Family for Literacy. KPMG’s Family for Literacy was established in 2007 to provide children from low-income families with their own new books — and in many cases, their very first book.In the past three years KPMG Family for Literacy has provided Emerald City the ability to deliver 16,000 brand new books to low-income Chicago Public School students.

The One Fund Education Award will be given to Chicago Public School’s Arts Education Office. The Arts Education office, led by Mario Rossero, spearheaded the creation of Chicago Public Schools’ Arts Education Plan, providing a sweeping new vision and direction for making the arts part of every CPS student’s educational experience from pre-school to graduation and beyond. Through this plan, schools have access to new resources and levels of support to achieve higher standards of arts education for all students.

Awards will be given out at a short ceremony on Saturday July 12, 2014 at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place following the opening performance of Emerald City Theatre’s Charlotte’s Web. The 21 schools (representing 6,357 low-income students) receiving 2014 One Fund Awards will also be represented and celebrated.

Emerald City’s One Fund seeks to inspire a love of reading though play by bringing a play and a new book to qualifying low-income CPS students. The One Fund is delivered three ways:

  • Read, Write & Act Classroom Residency—valued at $10,500
  • Performance at Apollo Theater—valued at $2,000
  • Performance Assembly at the School—valued at $3,800

With the support of KPMG’s Family for Literacy and Emerald City Donors, the One Fund is distributing over $110,000 worth of brand new books, theater performances and theater residencies to 21 CPS schools.

Emerald City’s One Fund Committee

Stephanie Free (Co-Chair), Michelle Kohanzo (Co-Chair), Kate Leslie (Emerald City), Karen Cardarelli (Emerald City), Beth Schmeski (Emerald City), Zion Banks (LaRabida Children’s Hospital), Dawn Lieberman (Anshe Emet Day School parent), Heike Spahn (British School parent), Catherine Moss (Coonley School parent), Chris Balzarini (KPMG), Leslie Fineberg (Nottage and Ward LLP), Gillian Gorra (Emerald City).

About Emerald City Theatre

Founded in 1996, Emerald City Theatre creates theatre experiences that inspire early learners through play. Emerald City is one of Chicago’s most attended non-profit theatres, with an annual programing reach of 80,000.

Through a rigorous collaboration between innovating artists and leading educators, Emerald City develops new work for young audiences, with over 29 world premieres; produces professional productions at the Apollo Theater in Lincoln Park, The Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, and regional tour venues; and provides acclaimed educational programming throughout Chicago through Emerald City Theatre School. Emerald City’s newly renovated Little Theatre is the nation’s first facility dedicated to theatre for the very young (ages 0-4).

Emerald City’s lead funders include the McArthur Fund for the Arts and Culture, the National Endowment for the Arts, Illinois Arts Council, The Land of Nod, KPMG, and the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

For more information, visit EmeraldCityTheatre.com

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