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Local bank announces arts donation Date published: 6/1/2009
BY EMILY BATTLE
PNC Bank has announced that it will contribute $35,000 to six local arts groups in an effort to strengthen the local arts community. Glenn Kinard, the bank's regional president, said he had been talking to local arts groups and assessing needs in the two years since he came to Fredericksburg. He said the gifts are meant to "deliver a message about sustainability" to the groups that receive them. "We're trying to message to them--if you had stronger infrastructure you could grow sponsorships and sell more tickets," Kinard said. "They really are operating performance to performance. You spend two years with these organizations and you see this stress." The six groups that will receive some of the $35,000 are the Arts and Cultural Council of the Rappahannock, the Fredericksburg Festival of the Arts, Stage Door Productions, the Rappahannock Pops Orchestra, the Riverside Foundation for the Performing Arts and Gari Melchers Home and Studio at Belmont. PNC did not specify how much would go to each group. Kathryn Willis, executive director of the Arts and Cultural Council of the Rappahannock, said she did not know exactly how much her group would get, but she praised the bank for its efforts to strengthen area arts groups. PNC's release said the bank would be providing start-up funds to this group, which recently put on a state conference in Fredericksburg about starting arts and cultural districts, something it and the Fredericksburg Arts Commission are both pursuing in Fredericksburg. "I'm thrilled that PNC is taking this leadership position," Willis said. "It is a vote of confidence that the arts groups they are supporting are producing a quality product." At Belmont, a PNC Foundation grant will allow 90 children from the Bragg Hill Family Life Center, Olde Forge Junction and the Boys and Girls Club to visit the house over the summer. The foundation, which is the bank's charitable arm, will also pay for 12 children to attend a Belmont art camp in July. The PNC Foundation will underwrite the 2009-10 season for the Rappahannock Pops Orchestra and provide some operating support to the group. It will also sponsor a five-day summer musical theater camp for local at-risk youths that the Riverside Foundation for the Performing Arts plans for July. PNC Bank will be an underwriting sponsor for the Fredericksburg Festival of the Arts for 2009-10, and will also sponsor the groups's 22nd annual Chamber Music Festival tomorrow through Saturday. PNC bank will also be the exclusive underwriter of Stage Door Productions' plays. Kinard said the arts are one of three areas PNC focuses on in the communities it serves. The bank has also started initiatives connected to early childhood education and affordable housing. Emily Battle: 540/374-5413
With all the local foreclosures from the collapse of real estate and mortgages, it would make sense for the banks to contribute
to homeless peoples' needs. It is best for the learning process for musicians to buy their own instruments, to make their fortune in the music business.
I commend PNC for taking a leadership role in supporting the Arts locally, and would like to challenge others to look for ways to become involved. Our local school districts have wonderful music programs, but cannot afford specialized instruments to complete their Orchestras. Students are available to play them, but there is no money for the purchase. No money for new music. Thre are many ways to support these worthy causes. Studies have shown that music involvement leads to better performance in life.
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