Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation - [image: Children Take a Bow After School Play]
News

$100K Raised for Hudson School District Arts and Humanities Fund

January 23, 2012

Sheffield, MA—Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation today announced that with three significant gifts, two by anonymous donors, the challenge to raise $100,000 to create an endowment for the Hudson Schools Arts and Humanities Fund was met this holiday season. In 2009, the Ellsworth Kelly Foundation awarded $200,000 to Berkshire Taconic to launch the Hudson Schools Arts and Humanities fund, $100,000 of which was a challenge grant to build an endowment for programs in the arts and humanities. The community was asked to raise an additional $100,000 by the end of 2014 to match this initial gift and secure the fund's future.

On December 21, 2011, a cashier's check arrived at Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation for $25,000 designated for the Hudson Arts and Humanities Fund. The donor was not identifiable. This was the gift that was needed to top off a fundraising effort that had been underway for over a year.

Jack Howe, superintendent of the Hudson School District said, "We are overwhelmed and thrilled with our mysterious and generous donor who has helped us meet this challenge. The Arts and Humanities Fund has already brought extraordinary and transformative projects to our schools in its first year and this means that we will be able to continue long into the future to keep up the stream of creative and innovative offerings that our students and teachers want and need."

Two other donors had already committed support: The Rhinestrom Hill Community Foundation has committed $25,000 and a private foundation in Hudson has committed $50,000. Richard Koskey of The Rhinestrom Hill Community Foundation said, "Our foundation is dedicated to supporting essential organizations in Columbia County and the importance of Berkshire Taconic's Hudson Arts and Humanities Fund to the education of our young people is indisputable. The Rhinestrom Hill Community Foundation is proud to be able to play this significant role in creating a permanent source of support for Hudson's public school children."

Berkshire Taconic's consultant Jeffrey Levitsky coordinates the Arts and Humanities funds in Hudson and with all the public schools in Columbia County. Said Levitsky, "These gifts are a vote of confidence in the power of the arts and humanities to bring inspiration and hope to the students of the Hudson public schools. The kinds of projects we're developing will help improve students' reading ability and deepen their understanding of the arts as well as issues of diversity and tolerance—and expose them to rich experiences that they wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity for."

"Hudson is a great city and deserves a great school district," stated Carmi Rapport of the law firm, Rapport Myers and former Board Chair of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. "I have been so cheered to work with Berkshire Taconic on this positive contribution to our community and most grateful to the Ellsworth Kelly Foundation, the Rhinestrom Hill Foundation and our other donors. We're off to a great start!"

Over the last two years the Hudson Arts and Humanities Fund has funded a number of projects including:

  • A play adaptation of the anti-bullying novel “Bystander” by James Preller was presented to wide acclaim and will be performed at other Columbia County schools later this year.
  • Trips to Broadway musicals, Art Omi, Olana, the Clark Art Institute and MassMoCA were provided to broaden student connections to arts experiences.
  • The art department was awarded $2,500 to upgrade their computer arts capabilities.
  • The 2nd grade class created a 3-dimensional map of Hudson for display at TSL as part of their Cruising Your Community program.

    • "We offer congratulations to the Hudson community for standing so strongly behind their public schools and building this important endowment that will provide a steady stream of income annually for arts projects for students," said Jennifer Dowley, president of Berkshire Taconic. "This is just the beginning! More gifts will come over time to fuel innovative projects in the schools."

    The Hudson Arts and Humanities Fund is one of 6 such funds launched over the last ten years by Berkshire Taconic in partnership with the Ellsworth Kelly Foundation. The others are: Chatham Education Foundation – Arts and Humanities Fund; Germantown Student Education Arts and Humanities Fund; Kinderhook Central School District Arts and Humanities Fund; New Lebanon Foundation Arts and Humanities Fund and Taconic Hills Arts and Humanities Fund. You can donate online or send a check to BTCF, PO Box 400, Sheffield, MA 01257 or calling 413-229-0370.

    Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation builds stronger communities and improves the quality of life for all residents of northwest Litchfield County, CT; Berkshire County, MA; and Columbia County and northeast Dutchess County, NY, acting as an agent for positive change in the region. Since 1987, Berkshire Taconic has managed a growing collection of charitable funds created by individuals, families and businesses. Each year, the foundation distributes over $7 million through grants and scholarships for programs in the arts and education, health and human services and environmental protection, helping thousands of donors achieve their philanthropic goals and hundreds of nonprofits carry on their good work. Berkshire Taconic is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity.

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