Beaverton School District And Young Audiences Secure Private Matching Funds To Win 4 Million Grant From The US Department Of Education For The Arts For Learning Program

Young Audiences of Oregon/SW Washington, and Young Audiences, Inc. (N.Y.), in partnership with the Beaverton School District in Oregon, have successfully secured the 20% private matching funds in order to be awarded a five year $4 million Investing in Innovation (i3) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The grant is designated for the Arts for Learning (A4L) Program which will serve over 13,000 3rd - 5th grade students over five years. This grant was one of only three arts-focused projects awarded in the nation. Grant partners include Young Audiences of Oregon/SW Washington, Young Audiences, Inc., the University of Washington and WestEd.

Young Audiences and Beaverton School District officials had little more than one month to secure $808,000 for the 20% match.As of the September 8 deadline, the partnership had not only met the match, but had secured an additional $300,000 to enhance and expand the program throughout the Beaverton School District's 33 elementary schools.

Young Audiences approached the Beaverton School District with the Arts for Learning Program, and working together crafted a proposal that resonated with the U.S. Department of Education selection committee. "Our program was selected from over 1,700 grant applicants, and was one of only 49 grants awarded in the United States, and the only Oregon recipient. This proves the innovation, strength and efficacy of our concept and brings a national spotlight to our teachers, artists and students," states Gail Hayes-Davis, Executive Director of Young Audiences Arts for Learning of Oregon/SW Washington.

“We are grateful to have received such overwhelming support from the Beaverton and Greater Portland regional businesses and philanthropic communities, and it is a testament to the significance of the Arts for Learning project for the Beaverton School District," says David A. Dik, National Executive Director, Young Audiences, Inc. “The award will bring this ground-breaking, arts-based literacy program to thousands of Beaverton students, and establish the Young Audiences Arts for Learning Lessons as a national model for innovative educational reform.”

On Friday, John Wolosek, CEO of the The Giving Stream, pledged his additional support to ensure the match would be met. "Our company brings together technology, commerce and activists to raise money for charitable causes," said Mr. Wolosek. "We are happy to assist Young Audiences and the Beaverton School District in reaching their matching fund goal and helping students develop critical skills and a love for the arts."

Arts for Learning lessons address complex literacy concepts through the integration of the arts into reading and writing lessons. Reading for understanding, surveying and organizing large amounts of information, determining point-of-view, and making inferences are all critical skills children need to be successful. Because of the belief and generosity of community members, more than 13,000 students in the Beaverton School District will engage in this innovative program over the next five years.

"The response to our request for assistance from major foundations, City of Beaverton Mayor Denny Doyle, the Beaverton Education Foundation, community business partners, staff, parents, and individual citizens during these challenging economic times, has been a gratifying vote of confidence for the arts and the well-rounded education of our students," says Jerry Colonna, Superintendent of the Beaverton School District. "We are fortunate to live in an area where community support for high quality education and innovation is so strong."

Here is a partial list of donors (alpha order):

• Businesses and Foundations
• Aloha Garbage Company
• Barrantine, Bates & Lee
• Beaverton Arts Foundation
• Beaverton Education Foundation
• Big Al's
• Cascade Counseling
• Columbia Community Bank
• Columbia Sportswear
• Intel
• LCG Pence Contractors
• Lease Crutcher Lewis
• Meyer Memorial Trust
• Northwest Evaluation Association
• Pacific Office Automation
• P & C Construction
• Robinson Construction
• Skanska
• The Collins Foundation
• The Giving Stream
• The James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation
• Tualatin Hills Park Foundation
• Valley Garbage & Recycling
• Vernier Software & Technology
• Walker Garbage Service
• Waste Management
• West Slope Garbage Service
• Witt Company
• More than 200 individual donations

Contact information:
Gail Hayes-Davis, Executive Director, Young Audiences, Oregon/SW Washington, 503-225-5900
Maureen Wheeler, Public Communication Officer, Beaverton School District, 503-591-4360