FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
MY A.R.T.S. Kids HIRES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FINE ARTS
Meghan Muncher, Director of My A.R.T.S., has announced the successful accomplishment of her organizations 2007-2008 calendar school year goal.
The project entitled, "The AUDACITY of the ARTS", was to raise the necessary funds to finance the hiring of a Fine Arts School Teacher for a state public school system that currently did not have a teacher. The success of the program was so great that not only will My A.R.T.S. Kids be financing the teacher's salary, but also will be providing all of the materials to be used throughout the semester.
Beginning the Spring Semester of 2008, Mrs. Emily Johnson was hired by the Walker County School Board as the Elementary School Fine Arts Teacher of Walker County. Ms. Johnson will be teaching one week at each of the 13 county elementary schools.
Ms. Johnson has annouced that the curriculum that she has chosen for the schools will be based upon the 9 Week Lesson Plan Program that was created by Meghan Muncher and the My A.R.T.S. Kids organization.
DATE: 07/15/09
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Person : MEGHAN MUNCHER
Telephone/E-mail address: 205-522-1686 / Meghan@myartskids.org
MY A.R.T.S. KIDS RECEIVES TWO GRANTS FROM
THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION of
GREATER BIRMINGHAM
My A.R.T.S. Kids has received a $1,200 grant and a $2.300 grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham to support its Elementary School Fine Arts Education Mission. The grants came from the Community Funds of the Community Foundation and from an Anonymous Donor with the Community Foundation; the unrestricted endowment makes grants twice a year to meet the most pressing needs of the community.
Executive Director Meghan Muncher states, “Again I am extremely honored that the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham has agreed to assist My A.R.T.S. Kids with our cooperative Fine Arts Education program that we operate in the Walker County, Jasper City, and West Jefferson Elementary Schools. Also, I am humbled that in these times of economic hardship, an Anonymous Donor has recognized our program as a deserving benefactor of their generosity. I want them to know that we will not let them down. Our program will provide a Fine Arts Instructor who can travel to each Walker County and Jasper City Elementary School along with our new school program at West Jefferson Elementary, and teach Fine Art Education classes to students who may otherwise never receive similar training.”
As an 18 year-old freshman, Meghan Muncher began My A.R.T.S. Kids as an After-School program to teach children fine arts awareness. Today it is a federal and state recognized 501-C-3 organization that operates In-School and After-School Programs along with Summer Camps and Elementary School Tours. It also distributes free-of-charge Fine Arts Education coloring books that were written and illustrated by its director.
The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham is the largest community foundation in Alabama, founded in 1959 and dedicated to making life better in Jefferson, Shelby, Walker, Blount and St. Clair counties as a grant making, convener and catalyst on community issues and as a trusted philanthropic advisor. As a public endowment, the Community Foundation provides philanthropic expertise and opportunities for giving, such as real estate or through a bequest. For more information, go to www.foundationbirmingham.org or call 327-3800.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: 12/15/07
Contact Person : MEGHAN MUNCHER
Telephone/E-mail address: 205-522-1686 / Meghan@myartskids.org
MY A.R.T.S. KIDS RECEIVES $3,000 GRANT FROM
THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION of
GREATER BIRMINGHAM
FOR “AUDACITY of the ARTS” Project
My A.R.T.S. Kids has received a $3,000 grant from The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham to support its AUDACITY of the ARTS project. The grant came from the Community Funds of The Community Foundation; the unrestricted endowment makes grants twice a year to meet the most pressing needs of the community.
Executive Director Meghan Muncher states that, “we are extremely excited and pleased that the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham has agreed to assist My A.R.T.S. Kids and the Walker County Board of Education with our cooperative program, AUDACITY of the ARTS. This program will provide a Fine Arts Instructor who will travel to each Walker County Elementary School and teach Fine Art Education Awareness classes to students who may otherwise never receive similar training.
As an 18 year-old freshman, Meghan Muncher began My A.R.T.S. Kids as an After-School program to teach children fine arts awareness. Today it is a federal and state recognized 501-C-3 organization that continues its After-School Programs along with Summer Camps, and Elementary School Tours. It also distributes free-of-charge three Fine Arts Awareness storyline coloring books that were written and illustrated by its director.
The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham is the largest community foundation in Alabama, dedicated to making life better in Jefferson, Shelby, Walker, Blount and St. Clair counties through services to donors, professional advisors and nonprofit organizations. As a public endowment, The Community Foundation provides philanthropic expertise and opportunities for giving, such as Charitable Gift Annuities, Charitable Real Estate Foundation and a variety of grant making funds for donors and nonprofit organizations. For more information, go to www.foundationbirmingham.org or call 328-8641.
Marcus The Academic All-American...
"Oh man!", said Marcus, "It's our Academic and Sports Awards Day again!. Right now I am not making good grades in my classes and I am not making any of our sports teams either"
"Why can't I be naturally smart like Maria or gifted like Lizzy? Why can't I make A's on my report card and just once make the "A" team so my parents can be proud?"
"Aren't I the same boy who was the first to learn all the moves in my dance class? Didn't my dance teacher say I could move fast for a little guy? Didn't I learn all the music to our school fight song and play the song on the piano to our class? My teacher even said I had good hand-eye coordination."
"You know, I am the same boy who makes the highest leaps in Jazz Class and I can play th piano keys the quickest of anyone in class. I used to not worry about my school work but now I understand that you have to make good grades to go to college and play sports. Can I make good enough grades to go to college? If I can do well in my fine arts classes, then can I use those talents to help make my dreams a reality?"
Then he thought, he could use those talents! In fact, not only could he use the skills he gained by dancing and playing the piano, he oculd use the discipline and confidence they taught in his school work as well. He was going to make the good grades! He was going to make the team! Using the skills and discipline he learned in his fine arts classes helped open the door to achieve his dreams!
Maria the Entertainer...
"Another poor English Test Grade. I just don't understand. Am I ever going to speak English well? Is there a better way for me to learn English? Will I ever be able to reach my goal of being an entertainer on Broadway?"
"I know! I will ask my friends Lizzy and Marcus how they make good grades in English. I know Lizzy makes good grades, but has time for dance. I know Marcus makes good grades and is also on the baseball team."
"I learned, Lizxy said, that if I used the same discipline to study that I used to learn new dances, I could make good grades and even the school honor roll." Marcus said, "I learned that if I used the same concentration to study that I used in my piano classes, I could make good grades in all school work and I learned my dance classes even helped me become a better baseball player."
Maria thought, "You know I do love my singing classes and I do love my arts classes. Maybe I can use these classes to help me learn English." "I know I can draw pictures that use my spelling words, then I will remember them better and speak them better. I can also sing my Spanish songs in English that way I will remember what they mean and make better grades."
Then she was so excited to take her English test. In fact, the confidence she gained by singing the words and drawing the pictures had given her reason to believe she was going to make good grades. Her fine art strength's and her imagination even helped improve her scores in math, science, and history as well.
She was going to learn English! Her singing and art gifts help her grow and opened the door to achieve her dreams to be an entertainer on Broadway
Lizzy’s Story…
Un-oh! It's Honor's day again. Why is it that some of my “gifted” friends, like Marcus and Maria can make straight A’s, while I have to do extra work just to make any honor roll?
What's is wrong with me? Why can't my report card make my mommy’s and daddy’s faces glow with pride? Why can't I just once present them the bumper sticker that said, “My daughter’s an A student”?
Aren't I the same small girl who at the age of six months learned how to operate my mom’s “jam box” and who would sit for endless periods of time bobbing to the music? Didn't I learn all the words to “Twinkle-Twinkle Little Star” before the age of two and sing to anyone who would give me an audience? I am the same first grader who wrote and illustrated a storybook, “The Dog and A Cat Who Loved Each Other”?
The first years of school weren’t so bad because she never really thought about grades, but now it was different. Could she ever score high enough to get into college? Would she have the same educational opportunities as the academically gifted students? If she couldn’t do as well with the regular courses, did she possess a talent or strength that would help make her dreams a reality?
Then it dawned on her. She had other gifts. In fact, hadn’t the confidence she gained by singing and dancing given her the discipline to succeed in her other classes? Hadn’t those strengths and her imagination helped improve her scores in math, science, and history? She was going to make the grades! Finding her gifts and helping them grow opened the door to achieving her dreams!
