BOSTON, Oct. 22, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Today, Boston Arts Academy Foundation (BAA Foundation), which raises essential funds for Boston Arts Academy (BAA), the city's only public arts high school, announced two major gifts to support BAA's artistic youth. A multi-faceted partnership with BAA's neighbors, the Red Sox Foundation and Fenway Music Company, includes a pledge of $500,000 to be paid over the next five years. Also, an anonymous donor is giving $500,000 and providing an additional challenge grant, matching donations of $10,000 to $100,000 up to $500,000. These donations and additional funds raised through the matching grant will go toward BAA Foundation's Building Our Future Campaign, its first-ever five-year, $30 million comprehensive campaign.
The partnerships and gift from the Red Sox Foundation and Fenway Music Company will be formally accepted and celebrated at a campaign breakfast hosted by the Boston Red Sox with BAA Foundation leadership on November 6 at Fenway Park.
BAA students come from all 23 neighborhoods in Boston to pursue their passion for theatre, visual arts, dance, music or fashion technology; the majority are from low-income families. BAA Foundation relies on donations from individual and institutional donors to provide $5,000 annually for each of BAA's 469 students to fully fund the arts curriculum, support services and provide access to a world-class education free of charge. When BAA opens its new school building in the Fenway in 2021, the number of students enrolled will increase to 500, and eventually grow to 650 over the years. The Building Our Future Campaign, which has raised $5 million of its $30 million goal, will ensure that a growing body of Boston students experience BAA's arts intensive, college preparatory education, now and for decades to come.
"These very generous gifts help build momentum that is critical for us to reach our campaign goal. They also send a message to our students that they are supported and believed in, and that's vitally important," said BAA Foundation Board Chair Lee Pelton, who is also president of Emerson College. "The success of this campaign will allow Boston Arts Academy to continue providing life-changing opportunities for Boston's artistic youth."
"We're grateful and inspired by the generous and creative support of our anonymous donor and the Red Sox Foundation and Fenway Music Company. Their donations and partnerships underscore the vision and commitment required to support our students for generations to come," said BAA Foundation President Denella Clark. "While we have made great progress on our campaign, we have a long way to go. We believe these transformative partnerships will inspire others to join them in supporting Boston Arts Academy's artists-scholars-citizens."
Building Our Future Challenge Grant: An anonymous donor, has committed up to $1 million, which includes an immediate $500,000 donation. To encourage additional support, the donor will match $500,000 in gifts of $10,000-$100,000 during the next four years. This grant is in recognition of the important role that BAA plays in supporting students through its high-quality arts and education model and contributing to the vibrancy of the city of Boston.
Red Sox Foundation/Fenway Music Company Gift and Partnership: With BAA located directly behind Fenway Park on Ipswich Street, undergoing a transformation to a new state-of-the-art facility to be completed in 2021, the Red Sox Foundation's and Fenway Music Company's partnerships with the school lay the groundwork for countless collaborations in the coming years. The partnerships will provide BAA students with access to events, internships, paid jobs and professional mentors, as well as the generous donation of $500,000 over the next five years. The charitable work of the Red Sox Foundation will also benefit, with access for Red Sox Scholars and RBI players in the 8th grade to explore BAA's STEAM Lab, computer labs and auditorium space at its new facility.
With support from the city and state, the BAA community broke ground on its new $125 million, 153,000 square-foot facility at its Fenway location in October 2018. Part of the Building Our Future campaign supports BAA's distinct offerings in its new building, including its Health and Wellness Program and STEAM Lab. It will also create a $13.5 million endowment and support college scholarships for graduating seniors. Over the past four years, 97% of BAA graduates have been accepted to college; most are first-generation college students.
"Supporting Boston Public School's students has long been a core mission of the Red Sox Foundation, and this gift to the Boston Arts Academy has the added benefit of being directed to our longstanding Fenway neighbor," said Red Sox Executive Director Bekah Salwasser. "As our ownership group embarks on the development of a state-of-the-art performing arts center, the implications for further partnership with the BAA are immeasurable. We hope this grant is just the beginning of an enduring collaboration between our organizations."
"All of us in the arts community have a deep-rooted belief in the extraordinary mission of the Boston Arts Academy," said President of Live Nation New England Don Law. "We all know just how much of an influence the arts can have on the trajectory of a young person's life and it is an honor to help the BAA continue to make a real, impactful difference in the lives of so many."
About Boston Arts Academy
Founded in 1998 as the city's only public high school for the visual and performing arts, Boston Arts Academy (BAA) has distinguished itself among urban public high schools as a leader in innovative and effective student-centered education. Consistently recognized locally and nationally for its achievements, BAA exemplifies the power of an arts-rich education, as more than 1,600 BAA graduates have found success in college through the arts. BAA provides a diverse student body, a majority who come from low-income families, access to a college-preparatory arts and academic curriculum not otherwise available to them. Our mission is to prepare a community of aspiring artist-scholar-citizens to be successful in their college or professional careers and to be engaged members of their communities.
About Boston Arts Academy Foundation
Established in 1999, the Boston Arts Academy Foundation (BAA Foundation) is an independent non-profit organization that raises essential funds from private philanthropic sources to augment the BAA school budget. Boston Public School dollars support BAA's academic offerings. The BAA Foundation annually raises $5,000 for each of BAA's 469 students to keep the "arts" and other critical student services in Boston Arts Academy. For more information, please visit https://bostonartsacademy.org/support-baa/baa-foundation/.
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SOURCE Boston Arts Academy
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