News release from Arts United:
English Bonter Mitchell Foundation Gives Arts United $1.4 Million
(April 4, 2011) – The English Bonter Mitchell Foundation has awarded Arts United with a significant gift of $1.4 million. The donation will be awarded over a five-year period.
“We believe that arts and culture are a vital part of the Fort Wayne community,” commented Mike Eikenberry, PNC Regional President, “and we believe that Arts United is a great vehicle for delivering the funding, facilities and business support needed to keep our arts organizations strong.”
“We are thrilled with this show of support from the English Bonter Mitchell Foundation,” says Arts United Executive Director Jim Sparrow. “This very generous donation will maintain the foundation’s level of giving to our annual fund over the next five years, while also providing a major gift to our Home for the Arts campus project.”
This commitment was made as discretionary funding, allowing Arts United to determine the best use of the donation. The English Bonter Mitchell Foundation has contributed generously to the Arts United annual fund drive for many years. The annual fund drive is essential to the operation of Arts United and many of the organizations they support in the 10-county region. Arts United will allocate a portion of the $1.4 million gift to each of the next five fund drive years. Part of the gift has already been applied to help with the purchase and renovation of the Auer Center for Arts and Culture, the new addition to the arts campus in downtown Fort Wayne.
The mission of Arts United is to develop, support, and coordinate arts and cultural efforts in northeast Indiana. Through Arts United’s assistance with funding, facilities, and business services, many non-profits are able to focus their staff and other resources on providing the mission-driven programming that enrich our community. These organizations are able to operate more efficiently when given the business services – health insurance administration, payroll services, financial administration – and affordable office, rehearsal, and performance spaces provided by Arts United.
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