press room
For Immediate Release
10/26/2007Contact:
Beth Olsen
Goodman Media International for Americans for the Arts
212.576.2700 ext. 243 or bolsen@goodmanmedia.com
Americans for the Arts Activates Emergency Relief Fund
Washington, DC, October 26, 2007 — Americans for the Arts, the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America, announced today that it has activated the Americans for the Arts Emergency Relief Fund in response to the wildfires in Southern California and will contribute $20,000 to stimulate the fund. Originally launched in 2005 shortly after Hurricane Katrina, the fund was developed to provide timely financial assistance to local arts service organizations located in or serving areas impacted by a major disaster for the purpose of rebuilding the arts in their communities.
The Americans for the Arts Emergency Relief Fund was created with an initial contribution of $100,000 from Americans for the Arts’ own reserves and raised additional funds for local arts service organizations. The Emergency Relief Fund distributes financial support directly to local arts service organizations to assist with their own recovery and/or to provide needed services and funding to local nonprofit arts groups, individual artists and other relief efforts dedicated to helping the arts. One-hundred percent of the contributions to the Emergency Relief Fund will go directly to these efforts.
Southern California is an area rich in culture, with arts businesses numbering more than 54,386 and employing more than 298,310.
“We are concerned about the well-being of many of our California residents; the devastation of a natural disaster like this extends beyond aesthetic destruction, impacting the quality of life, culture, and community of those in its wake,” said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “We are glad to be able to utilize the Emergency Relief Fund to ensure the rebuilding of the arts in the affected communities.”
For information on how to make a tax-deductible contribution or to apply for funds, visit the Americans for the Arts website at www.AmericansForTheArts.org/EmergencyRelief or contact Americans for the Arts toll-free at 866.471.2787 and ask for the Americans for the Arts Emergency Relief Fund.
Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America. With offices in Washington, DC, and New York City, it has a record of more than 45 years of service. Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Additional information is available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org.
