From October through December 2004, $3,000 in donations was specifically directed toward Carnegie’s arts community. These funds were collected from donations by guests of Stage 62’s production of Annie in November 2004 , from 30% of the total collected at the 3rd Street Gallery’s “Come Back Gallery Gala”, and from private donations from residents and businesses who believe that Carnegie’s arts community is still strong and viable.
I am so grateful to Mary Ann Paff and Joanne Letcher for providing guidance and assistance in determining this program, and to all those who believe in our arts community. After watching the slow process of rebuilding and getting back to business, it was truly be a joy to hand these individuals a check with a big hug and a thanks to them for staying with us.
And thanks, all of you awardees, for saying such wonderful things in the article in the Signal-Item! It makes the experience all the better.
Read "Carnegie Renaissance Passes Checks" in the Carnegie Signal-Item
Below is how it all came together.
Eligible Organizations
The eligible organizations were the Pittsburgh Music Academy, Eccentricities, Southwest Ballet, South Arts, Black Swan Gallery, 3rd Street Gallery and the Historical Society of Carnegie, and these were given an application with an explanation of how to apply.
The Application Process
The money would be used for whatever the organization would need, whether it be the purchase of equipment, self-promotion to increase business, or to reimburse costs associated with recovery. The criteria we used to decide the award amount included the extent of financial need and any non-loan amount the organization may have already received. Carnegie Renaissance’s financial advisor, Mary Ann Paff of Fidelity Bank, and our treasurer, Joanne Letcher of J&L Travel, and I reviewed the applications and determined the amounts to be awarded.
At the time of the application, Jean Salvato said she felt she had already received enough and would not apply so that more could be given to the other organizations; she had encouraged several to move to town in the first place, and also encouraged them to rebuild and stay after the flood, and this would be another way to preserve Carnegie as an arts community, long one of her goals.
Likewise, Marcella McGrogan had received a grant and did not feel she needed anything extra, so the money was divided among the remaining organizations.
The Final Awards
Here's what the awardees received:
The applications are in and the amounts decided, and we of Carnegie Renaissance are glad to finally disburse the checks to you, the members of our arts community affected by the flood. We remember Jean Salvato as we award these amounts; two-thirds of the money came from the “Come Back Gallery Gala” held in November 2004 to assist Jean and Phil with the costs of rebuilding after the flood, and Jean refused to apply for any of this funding so that more of it could be distributed to the rest of you.
After reviewing the applications, we found that we could award pretty much what you asked for since all of you were pretty modest and reasonable—not that we’d expect any less of you! We took into account any other assistance you may have listed, what your prior, current or future sources of assistance seem to be, and whether or not you are purely non-profit, instructional or retail in nature to attempt, at least, to understand your earning potential, and only made adjustments according to the size of your financial need in comparison to others in the group.
With that in mind, here are the award amounts in alphabetical order:
Black Swan Art & Frame Gallery: $800 to help purchase two additional pieces of equipment
Eccentricities: $800 to purchase a new counter and restock the kitchen
Pittsburgh Music Academy: $500 to replace a piano in the school
South Arts Gallery: $500 to replace gallery and classroom equipment and furnishings
Southwest Ballet: $400 to rebuild costume inventory since the Phoenix Project was snowed out
Of course, we wish it could be more, but we are happy to be the stewards of this generosity from our community. We’ll be there with you as you continue to rebuild.
Sincerely,
Bernadette Kazmarski, Director
Mary Ann Paff, Financial Supervisor
Joanne Letcher, Treasurer
cc: Andy Folmer, Stage 62 ($1,000 donated from audiences at “Annie” in November 2004)
“Come Back Gallery Gala” committee ($2,000 donated from this event)
Stage 62 Collects $2,000 for Flood Victims
In nickels, dimes and dollar bills, Stage 62 collected $2,000 in donations from audience members through its November run of "Annie" at Andrew Carnegie Free Library's Music Hall.
The effort began with a benefit performance of the production on Thursday, November 4, when the entirety of the $10 ticket price for the final dress rehearsal was to be donated to flood victims.
Thereafter, lead character "Oliver Warbucks", played by Bob Lee, remarked to the audience as the cast was taking its final bow that strong people survived adversity, echoing the central theme of the musical, and that the people of Western Pennsylvania were some of the strongest around, letting the audience know that a donation jar was in the lobby. The gentle remark received a resounding response.
Every year Stage 62 takes a collection
for the benefit of some charity, such as the Greater Pittsburgh
Food Bank, and this year they decided it would be the flood victims
in Carnegie.
"The Carnegie community has supported us since our move in
1990 from Bethel Park," said Andy Folmer, past president
of Stage 62.
As the organization was tallying the last donations after the final performance on Saturday night, the total was only $20 shy of $2,000. Folmer strolled the lobby crowd of cast members and the last few audience members and quickly collected the remainder to complete a nice round grand total.
Originally, the amount collected at the benefit performance was to be given to the arts organizations in Carnegie and the remainder collected as donations given to the general flood relief fund. "The general donations so far outweighed the benefit performance that I'd just like to divide it fifty-fifty," Folmer said on Saturday night after the last performance.
The benefit performance and donations were done with the support of Carnegie Renaissance, and the cash was given to Bernadette Kazmarski, Carnegie Renaissance director, and deposited into the account at Fidelity Bank, to be managed and disbursed by Carnegie Renaissance.
"The generosity of people is really amazing," said Kazmarski. "Who would have thought that this much could be raised in small amounts over the course of only three weeks?" she continued as she cradled the pile of envelopes stuffed with bills and jingling with change handed to her by Folmer, each marked with the date of the performance and the amount collected that night. One night alone $297 and change was collected.
"And look how the arts organizations in Carnegie have supported each other," Kazmarski remarked, pointing out that just last weekend a total of $6,040 was collected at the 3rd Street Gallery's "Come Back Gallery Gala". This amount did not include art sales from that night, which would bring the total higher; some of the pieces had been donated by the artists which allowed the entire selling price to be donated to the gallery.
The amount collected at the gallery gala was divided 70% to the Salvatos to benefit 3rd Street Gallery and 30% to the arts community. That amount would equal a little over $1,800, and along with the portion of the Stage 62 donations equals $2,800 for the arts organizations who were devastated by the flood. Renaissance Gallery is still counting their sales from their anniversary celebration, and will donate a portion of those sales to the arts community as well.
Kazmarski will be working with Mary Ann Paff, manager of Carnegie's Fidelity Bank, to total the donations and disburse them. "First we'll write the check to Carnegie's general flood relief fund from the Stage 62 donations," Kazmarski said, "and then Mary Ann and I will sit down and plan how best to distribute the funds to the affected organizations."
These organizations include the Pittsburgh Music Academy, Eccentricities, Southwest Ballet, South Arts, Black Swan Gallery, 3rd Street Gallery and the Historical Society of Carnegie. Once the total is obtained, Kazmarski and Paff plan to send a letter to each of the organizations to let them know the money is available, then use an application process to distribute it.
Carnegie's arts community had been enjoying a period of growth in 2003 and 2004, adding South Arts to Main Street, the expansion of Black Swan Gallery and an increase in general attendance at all art exhibits and shows and students at the schools. But, as Jean Salvato said, the flood was "just an interruption," and arts events and classes are resuming as we move into the holiday season.
Donations can be made specifically to the arts community in Carnegie by sending a check to Carnegie Renaissance, c/o Fidelity Bank, 17 West Main Street, Carnegie, PA 15106. Carnegie Renaissance is not (yet) a non-profit organization, so these donations are not tax-deductible.