Lincoln Foundation Supports Arts Accessibility and Education in Philadelphia

March 18, 2013 /3BL Media/ - Lincoln Financial Group is strengthening art education opportunities and access to the arts for a broad spectrum of Philadelphia residents through $431,500 in grants to 24 local nonprofit organizations. The grants are a portion of more than $2.1 million in charitable funds Lincoln Financial has allocated for the area in 2013.

A $136,000 grant over two years to the Philadelphia Museum of Art will help underwrite the museum’s corporate partner and high school teen programs. Teen programs are a key component of the museum's mission to extend the reach of its collection and the visual arts to a broad, diverse audience; to promote the study of art as an imperative resource for education; and to engage young people in the life of the museum. Programs include teen docents in the galleries and studios, a high school sketch club working with professional artists, and a summer teen media program learning filmmaking and technology skills.

Other arts grants awarded include:

• $60,000 over two years to Musicopia to support Bridge to Music, a comprehensive weekly music education program for students in three public schools in North Philadelphia, and the Musicopia String Orchestra, providing structured instrument skill-building and performance opportunities to mostly Philadelphia youth.
• $60,000 over two years to Philadelphia Mural Arts Advocates for its signature arts education program engaging more than 600 youth at 23 schools and community sites throughout Philadelphia.
• $60,000 over two years to Philadelphia Theatre Company to support Drama Contact, an in-school and at-the-theater education program for students in the Philadelphia school district.
• $50,000 over two years to Philadelphia Young Playwrights for its In-class Playwriting Education program, which enhances literacy skills and builds a community of writers and critical thinkers in students within the School District of Philadelphia.
• $40,000 over two years to Arden Theatre Company to support the Arden for All education outreach program in Philadelphia, which includes tickets to the Arden Children’s Theatre, books and in-class lessons to underserved elementary school students, promoting literacy by linking reading with theatre. 
• $40,000 over two years to the Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial for its Community Partnerships in the Arts program, an award-winning initiative that brings high-quality, arts-integrated learning experiences to youth who otherwise lack access to arts education opportunities.
• $30,000 over two years to the Rock School for Dance Education for Rock Reach, a multi-faceted outreach program providing elementary school children with high-quality weekly dance instruction in ballet and jazz, culminating with a student performance. 
• $30,000 over two years to Walnut Street Theatre Corp. to support the Adopt-a-School program at the Bache Martin School, integrating arts into the general curriculum and creating a drama club.
• $25,000 to the Philadelphia Orchestra Association to support its School Partnership program in the Moffet School, offering weekly classes to 225 students in grades 3, 4 and 5 with exposure and access to the Philadelphia Orchestra and its musicians.
• $20,000 over two years for Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra to support the Orchestrating Leadership program, providing a free 12-week after-school program for minority students who have little exposure to classical music.
• $15,000 to Art-Reach to provide access to arts programs for underserved audiences, including individuals with physical and developmental disabilities, at-risk youth and the elderly in need.
• $15,000 to Astral Artistic Services for its Community Classics program providing unique classical music experiences to senior citizens and disabled adults at Inglis House, Wesley Enhanced Living at Stapeley, Center in the Park at Germantown and Philadelphia Senior Center.
• $15,000 to Clay Studio for its Claymobile outreach program that provides off-site ceramics classes to K-12 students from minority and low- to moderate-income neighborhoods.
• $15,000 to Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance to build capacity within Philadelphia’s cultural sector.
• $15,000 to Singing City for its education and outreach programs, featuring Singing City Children’s Choir for students in grades 3 through 8. 
• $13,500 to the Wilma Theater for Wilmagination, an educational outreach program to integrate theater into the academic curriculum in middle and high school, including at least 11 residencies in three Philadelphia public schools.
• $10,000 to BuildaBridge International for Artology, a summer program for at-risk students integrating arts, biology and environmental science, using Philadelphia’s parks and museums as interactive classrooms.
• $10,000 to Pennsylvania Ballet for Accent on Dance, an education and outreach program that includes educational workbooks, performances, in-school residencies and after-school programs for public and charter school students in Philadelphia.
• $10,000 to Scribe Video Center for its youth media education programs consisting of a documentary history project for youth, youth media workshops, the Precious Places history project and special youth initiatives.
• $7,500 to Philadelphia Dance Company for its instruction and training program, providing access to ballet, modern, jazz and other styles taught by internationally renowned instructors to underserved local audiences, ages 8-23.
• $7,500 to VSA Arts of Pennsylvania for audio equipment upgrades for area theaters to use with their audiences.
• $5,000 to 1812 Productions for 1812 Outreach, a unique, in-school theater education program using comedy to serve at-risk students at the South Philadelphia High School and Widener Memorial School for Children with Disabilities.
• $5,000 to Al-Buston Seed of Culture for its Arab Arts after-school programs at John Moffet Elementary School.

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 $2.1 million to support nonprofits in Philadelphia in 2012. Since 1999, the Lincoln Financial Foundation has contributed more than $27 million to Philadelphia-area 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 anddental 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

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