The Rotary clubs of Sun City and Peoria North are partnering with Theater Works to provide exposure to the arts for local schools. The schools targeted are Title I schools that no longer have theater and arts taught within the standard curriculum.
Theater Works is a nonprofit community theater located in Peoria. Each year they sponsor field trips to several of their children's theater productions. These field trips are provided at little to no charge to Title I schools throughout the Valley of the Sun, not just the Peoria School District. For many of these children, it is the very first time - and for many, the only opportunity - to view live theater. The cost of admittance for the schools/students is covered by several sponsors - but our two Rotary clubs are seeking a district grant to cover the cost of transportation for these field trips. Theater Works expects to provide nearly 2,000 students exposure to live theater via these school field trips.
According to the theater's CEO, our school communities are telling him that transportation support is their biggest need. With the Act One Foundation basically eliminating their support of providing buses, most schools have had to limit their outings because buses are too expensive. The loss of this funding, plus an elimination of supplemental funding from the City of Peoria, has been a big blow to the theater.
The two clubs combined last year to secure a district grant to assist Theater Works in two ways. Funds were used to provide books to elementary school students in connection with shows they were seeing live on stage, and to subsidize field trip ticket costs for schools to attend live theater performances. Data gained last year from the theater showed that transportation costs were the biggest challenge for schools to take part in the field trips, and they feel financial support to cover the cost of transportation will make a bigger impact and positively affect more students. Therefore, our request this year is to seek support to help cover the costs of transportation for schools to attend these theater field trips.
Peoria North has committed $2,000 and the Rotary Club of Sun City is committing $2,000. We are hopeful each club can get a matching grant, for a total budget of $8,000 awarded to Theater Works.
Addendum to Project Description (added after the project was signed)
Uploaded documents for final report:
1. Final DDF report
2. Spreadsheet of performances specifically subsidized by Rotary DDF of $8,000
3. Spreadsheet showing all schools served by the program, including those beyond the 10 served by the district grant.
4. Photos of Rotarians presenting the grant during a live theater show, and Theater Works providing entertainment at the Sun City club annual fundraiser.
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