Mrs. Lopez named Oklahoma City Public School Foundation's Super Support Staff of the Year!

 

 

 

Spectacular Success: Foundation Event Raises $$ For Arts Education
12/18/2003

The numbers are in and the applause continues as organizers of this year’s A+ Arts Spectacular! relish in well-deserved success. Designed to raise money for the Arts in Education Fund for Oklahoma City Public Schools, the event did just that netting over $21,000. Since1997, the talent show has raised more than $300,000 for Oklahoma City Public School children.
     Held at Rose State Performing Arts Center, nearly 800 patrons, teachers, students and parents enjoyed the talent of visual and performing artists. This year’s event was chaired by Betsy Wood of McAfee & Taft.
     Former Mayor Kirk Humphreys and Kym Koch, press secretary for Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry emceed the event.
     Prior to curtain call, guests got a glimpse of the outstanding visual art of nearly 40 Oklahoma City community and professional artists as well as over 30 student-artists. On display were works including ceramics, drawings, fiber art, mixed media, paintings, photographs, sculpture art, stained glass, watercolor, wood turnings and more.

The Performers
     Bob Spinks (United Way of Metro Oklahoma City) conducted the orchestra including such talent as Bob Moore (OKC Public School District superintendent) on trumpet, Susan McCalmont (Kirkpatrick Foundation) on flute, Dr. Bob Gross (OKC Public Schools, Fine Arts Education director) on clarinet and various Oklahoma City Public School students. Performing a vocal and instrumental duet were the Ogle brothers, Kevin and Kent, from NewsChannel 4. Gary Owens brought the crowd to their feet with his comic relief, while former Oklahoma Governor George Nigh added a special touch by leading the orchestra in a rendition of our state song—Oklahoma.

Special Thanks
     A special thanks goes to the following sponsors for making the affair possible: Presenting Sponsor: Sonic, America’s Drive-in; Directors: The Meinders Foundation, Inc., United Way of Metro Oklahoma City; and the Ad Astra Foundation; Curators: The Honorable Kirk Humphreys; Architectural Design Group, Inc.; and Devon Energy Corporation; Concertmasters: McAfee and Taft; and Precor Realty Advisors, Inc.; Ticket Sponsors: Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores, Inc.; Kenny Walker; Erin Van Laanen and John Myles; and Rose State College; Media Support by KFOR-TV.

Proceed Benefits
     The Arts in Education Fund, since its institution, has funded such things as:
     Grants for educational opportunities such as a Recorder Program to introduce third and fourth grade students to instrumental music
     $25,000 to help initiate five Oklahoma A+ Schools—Cleveland, Linwood, Mark Twain, Sequoyah and Western Village Elementary
     $19,500 to provide art materials and instructional programs to teachers at Capitol Hill Elementary, Cleveland Elementary, Creston Hills Elementary, Eugene Field Elementary, Shidler Elementary, West Nichols Hills Elementary, Wilson Arts Integration Elementary, Northeast Academy High School, Northwest Classen High School and Western Village Charter School
     $15,000 to develop strategic framework for arts education programming
     $7,000 to purchase a performance harp for Classen School of Advanced Studies
     $6,800 to implement arts integration programming at Wilson Arts Integration School including a potter’s wheel, hand chime choir materials, violin bows, a Share the Music textbook series and arts-oriented children’s books
     $4,750 to purchase a sound system for the Northwest Classen High School auditorium

     The Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization that researches, creates and implements programs and initiatives to improve the quality of education for all students in Oklahoma City Public Schools. For more information about the Foundation, please call (405) 232-4049.