RACC Press Releases
June 14 , 2007
Work for Art campaign grows by 880%
Work for Art, a workplace giving program for arts and culture, has raised $434,468 in the 2006-07 campaign that ends this month – an 880% increase over last year’s total of $44,318. Tremendous growth in the program’s third year has been made possible in large part because of a $200,000 matching challenge grant from the City of Portland. In response to this incentive, hundreds of donors contributed an additional $234,468 since July 1, 2006. More than 600 individuals at 50 companies participated in the campaign, and many businesses matched their employees’ contributions. Others made gifts to Work for Art online at www.workforart.org and through a Portland Business License Fee check-off donation program.
Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams and Carole Morse, President of the PGE Foundation, joined the staff and board of the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) to announce the fundraising achievement to more than 125 business and community leaders at a celebration at the Portland Opera this afternoon.
“Our goal is to help local arts organizations succeed,” said Eloise Damrosch, Executive Director of RACC. “This community is very generous, but important arts and culture programs have been gradually losing ‘market share’ of all philanthropic contributions over the past 10 years. With a bold new call for support and the City’s generous incentive, hundreds of new donors have responded with gifts that will help keep our arts organizations strong. Strong arts organizations help fuel the creative economy, improve the quality of life for residents, provide our school children with a more well-rounded education, and help make our region an exciting destination for tourists.”
Work for Art is administered by the Regional Arts & Culture Council in partnership with Northwest Business for Culture & the Arts (NW/BCA) and a campaign cabinet of ten community volunteers. Underwriting support helps RACC distribute 100% of the money raised to more than 75 local arts and culture organizations in Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington Counties through a competitive grants process.
Work for Art donors are given special opportunities to enjoy many local arts events at discounted rates. Donors who give $60 or more (just $5 per month from their paycheck) receive an Arts Card with 2-for-1 tickets and other special offers to hundreds of performances, exhibits, and other arts events throughout the year. “The Arts Card helps people explore the local arts community with their friends and families, and attend events that they might not otherwise be able to afford,” said Work for Art program manager Kathryn Jackson.
The 2007-08 (fourth annual) campaign begins in July, and will once again include a matching challenge from the City of Portland along with additional matching funds from Clackamas County, Washington County, and a variety of other public and private partners that are still being secured. Campaign presentations are conducted at workplaces throughout the year, including combined campaigns with other federations (traditionally taking place in the fall), and arts-spotlight campaigns that take place in the spring. Many campaign presentations involve performances and hands-on arts activities with local artists.
A list of participating companies, an online contribution form, and other resources are available on the web at www.workforart.org.
Through vision, leadership and service the Regional Arts
& Culture Council works to integrate arts and culture in all aspects of
community life.
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RACC Staff to Contact
Jeff Hawthorne
Director of Community Affairs
503.823.5258
jhawthorne@racc.org
Mary Bauer
Communications Associate
503.823.5426
mbauer@racc.org
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