Lincoln Foundation Supports Arts Accessibility and Education in Fort Wayne

March 15, 2013 /3BL Media/ - Lincoln Financial Foundation is strengthening art education opportunities and access to the arts for a broad spectrum of Fort Wayne residents through $524,000 in grants to 16 local nonprofit organizations. These grants are a portion of more than $2.5 million in charitable funds the foundation has allocated for the area in 2013.

Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne will receive $280,000 over two years to support its annual fund drive and the Nonprofit Arts Internship Initiative (NAII).  Arts United’s annual fund drive is the primary means for mobilizing support for all of its activities, including significant operating grants to 12 principal partners.  Those principal partners benefit from a collaborative model of arts administration which uses shared resources to maximize effectiveness.  The NAII is designed to support developing and retaining a creative workforce in northeast Indiana.  Arts United has placed more than 60 interns at northeast Indiana’s largest arts and cultural organizations since 2007.

Other arts grants awarded include:

• $49,000 to Fort Wayne Philharmonic to sponsor the After Hours and Choral Concert Series as well as the Ensembles in the Schools music education program.
• $40,000 to the Fort Wayne Museum of Art to support Chihuly: Secret Garden, an exhibition showcasing the works of internationally-famous glass artist Dale Chihuly.
• $17,500 to Fort Wayne Cinema Center in support of programming that focuses on diversity as well as Lincoln Financial’s employee attendance package.  
• $16,000 to Fort Wayne Civic Theatre to sponsor the 2013-2014 Season, which includes four musicals, three plays and a featured production during the Northeast Indiana Playwright Festival.
• $15,000 to Fort Wayne Dance Collective to support a two-day guest residency of Gallim Dance from Brooklyn, N.Y.
• $13,500 to Foundation for Art and Music in Elementary Education for the Multicultural Visiting Artists Program for elementary students, teachers and their families. 
• $13,000 to Fort Wayne Children’s Choir to fund music education programs for youth, ages 7 to 18, who participate in one of seven ensembles, workshops, retreats and the annual Choralfest camp.
• $13,000 to Heartland Chamber Chorale for education outreach, including the Side by Side in Song program for high school students and the Everybody Sing program for elementary and middle school students. 
• $12,000 to Audiences Unlimited to support 60 small ensemble performances presented by the Fort Wayne Philharmonic to long-term care residents.   
• $12,000 to Fort Wayne Park Foundation for support of the Foellinger Theatre summer concert and movie series.
• $12,000 to Fort Wayne Youtheatre to support community outreach programs and the 2013-2014 Season of four theater productions. 
• $9,000 to Unity Performing Arts Foundation for its Voices of Unity Choir program.
• $7,500 to ARCH to fund community education programs, including tours, workshops, classroom activities and lectures. 
• $7,500 to Artlink for the 34th Annual National Print Exhibition, which focuses on printmaking techniques, including etching, woodcuts, lithography, intaglio, mezzotint, wood engraving, metal engraving, serigraphs and combinations of techniques. 
• $7,000 to Embassy Theatre Foundation for the Learn it Live educational series, which presents free professional touring company productions to students and their families.  

About Lincoln Financial Foundation
The Lincoln Financial Foundation, established in 1962, is a nonprofit organization formed and supported by Lincoln Financial Group. Under Lincoln Foundation guidelines, grants are made in the areas of arts, education, human services and economic/workforce development. The Lincoln Foundation awarded more than $2.5 million to support nonprofits in the greater Fort Wayne area in 2012. Since 1962, the Lincoln Foundation has contributed more than $89.3 million to Fort Wayne nonprofits.

About Lincoln Financial Group:
Lincoln Financial Group has set aside almost $10 million of its pre-tax earnings for charitable causes that support philanthropic endeavors in the communities where its employees work. Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE:LNC) and its affiliates. With headquarters in the Philadelphia region, the companies of Lincoln Financial Group had assets under management of $178 billion as of December 31, 2012. Through its affiliated companies, Lincoln Financial Group offers: annuities; life, group life, disability and dental insurance; 401(k) and 403(b) plans; savings plans; and comprehensive financial planning and advisory services. For more information, including a copy of our most recent SEC reports containing our balance sheets, please visit www.LincolnFinancial.com.

Byron Champlin
Lincoln Financial Foundation
(603) 226-5554
byron.champlin@lfg.com