Summary: Providing transportation for Title One school students to attend local community theater
The Rotary clubs of Sun City and Peoria North are partnering with Theater Works to provide exposure to the arts for local schools. The schools targeted are Title I schools that no longer have theater and arts taught within the standard curriculum.
Theater Works is a nonprofit community theater located in Peoria. Each year they sponsor field trips to several of their children's theater productions. These field trips are provided at little to no charge to Title I schools throughout the Valley of the Sun, not just the Peoria School District. For many of these children, it is the very first time - and for many, the only opportunity - to view live theater. The cost of admittance for the schools/students is covered by several sponsors - but our two Rotary clubs are seeking a district grant to cover the cost of transportation for these field trips. Theater Works expects to provide nearly 2,000 students exposure to live theater via these school field trips.
According to the theater's CEO, our school communities are telling him that transportation support is their biggest need. With the Act One Foundation basically eliminating their support of providing buses, most schools have had to limit their outings because buses are too expensive. The loss of this funding, plus an elimination of supplemental funding from the City of Peoria, has been a big blow to the theater.
The two clubs combined last year to secure a district grant to assist Theater Works in two ways. Funds were used to provide books to elementary school students in connection with shows they were seeing live on stage, and to subsidize field trip ticket costs for schools to attend live theater performances. Data gained last year from the theater showed that transportation costs were the biggest challenge for schools to take part in the field trips, and they feel financial support to cover the cost of transportation will make a bigger impact and positively affect more students. Therefore, our request this year is to seek support to help cover the costs of transportation for schools to attend these theater field trips.
Peoria North has committed $2,000 and the Rotary Club of Sun City is committing $2,000. We are hopeful each club can get a matching grant, for a total budget of $8,000 awarded to Theater Works.
Paid
This project is "Paid". This means that the funds from the district have been issued. This project is now being ready for implementation. When this is done, a report needs to be uploaded on the project page and the "Reported" button needs to be clicked, then the status of the project will be changed to "Reported".
Project listed for the 2024-25 Rotary Year.
Proposed Financing
Existing Contributions Towards This Project
Date
Cash
DDF
Total
Peoria North (5495)
30-May-24
$2,000
$2,000
$4,000
Sun City (5495)
7-Jun-24
$2,000
$2,000
$4,000
Total
$4,000
$4,000
$8,000
Project Supporting Documents
There are no documents yet for this project. Go to the administration page to upload documents.
Project Photos
History Log Entries
30-May-24
by Tom McLarty
Friendly Reminder: Thank you for applying for a District Grant for the D5495 2024-2045 Rotary year. In order to be considered for approval your club need to assure the MOU is uploaded to the documents tab in the District Grants Website. The MOU must be signed by two people, the current and incoming presidents. This needs to occur before the deadline of May 31, 2024. Also, please note which grant is your first choice.
In addition, the signature process must be completed
10-Jun-24
by Tom McLarty
Please supply final verification of which of the grants you have applied for is your first choice and which is secondary.
16-Jun-24
by Tom McLarty
Congratulations! This project has been approved for full funding. We need to do some administrative things, so we don’t know exactly when the money will hit your account, but our best guess is a month or so. We’ll send you an update when we have one. Please also remember that you may not spend money prior to TRF approval and reimburse yourself from grant funds. If there have been changes in your bank account (information for electronic transfer), please get that to Lucinda General (District Treasurer) as soon as possible. treasurer@rotary5495.org. Your report is due April 30, 2024, and receipts are required to complete the report (not invoices, cancelled checks, UPS shipping labels, or any other documents). Thank you for making the world a better place.
31-Aug-24
by Tom McLarty
After some delay from RI our block grant was approved on Friday August 30, 2024. The funds should be transferred sometime next week. We will be changing the status on your grant to “Approved” as of that date. As has been stated several times RI will not recognize receipts dated prior to August 30, 2024. Also, PO’s and cancelled checks are not acceptable forms of documentation. Please be sure all banking information is up to date.
2-Sep-24
by Tom McLarty
System Entry: Project sent for club signatures.
3-Sep-24
by Bret McKeand
System Entry: Project signed by Bret McKeand.
27-Sep-24
by Tom McLarty
System Entry: Project approved by the District Approval Committee.
16-Oct-24
by Tom McLarty
System Entry: Check for DDF payment issued by Foundation Treasurer.
18-Nov-24
by Bret McKeand
Two photos of Rotarians from the Peoria North and Sun City Rotary Clubs presenting the grant prior to a performance of "Grease" at Theater Works. One photo shows the grant presented on stage to the theater director; the other photo shows performers posing with Rotarians.
