Pittsburgh, PA (March 4, 2013) — All children deserve an education that helps them reach their potential. That includes providing their teachers with the necessary tools in the classroom, in the community, and - just recently - at Pittsburgh's New Hazlett Theatre.
State Farm representatives joined Pittsburgh's Prime Stage staff for a $10K check presentation prior to Saturday night's sold out performance of The Great Gatsby.
Since 2000, State Farm has been engaged with Prime Stage through volunteerism, board representation, and recently as a financial supporter of their program, “Creative Inquiry for Literacy Learning”. The program inspires teen readers to seek out personal connections to literature. The curriculum includes interactive lessons that excite, engage and expand a student's desire to learn. These workshops are highly requested by Pittsburgh area teachers and principals to address writing, critical thinking and creativity with have achieved great success. The program has been embraced by the Keystone Oaks and Penn Hills school districts with program participation by several schools including Pittsburgh Stevens, Urban Pathways Charter, West Greene Middle School, the Academy at Westinghouse, Carlynton Jr/Sr High School, and Trinity High School.
For State Farm, the investment is not only financial. The investment is personal. “I got involved with Prime Stage Theatre in 2003 when my son who was 9 at the time auditioned for a part in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”, said John Clark, a compliance coordinator with State Farm and a Prime Stage volunteer and web manager. “I was very impressed with the theater company. Becoming a cast member is a great experience for kids. It is so much more than memorizing lines. They learn how to work as a team, they learn a work ethic required to complete a production run, and they learn the discipline required to perform to an audience.”
For Pittsburgh State Farm agent Donna Fleming, the commitment is board membership. “I get a lot of satisfaction working with Prime Stage because of the great work we do. Our work with teachers and students is remarkable”, states Donna. “At State Farm, we also believe that all children deserve an education that helps them to reach their potential and that prepares them for life. Prime Stage provides students the creative resources they need to succeed in life and provides their teachers the tools to teach the value of reading through the excitement of great literature.”
Prime Stage Artistic Director, Wayne Brinda adds, “With education being a cornerstone of our mission and vision, Prime Stage offers unique programs for educators. We are great literature coming to life on stage, plus special programs for teachers and teens, and opportunities to be mentored by and work with creative artists.” For more on what programs and opportunities Prime Stage has to offer, please visit their website at http://www.primestage.com/index.html.
One in four public school children drop out before they finish high school. That is one student every 26 seconds or 7,000 students every school day (source America's Promise Alliance).
With a goal to unite individuals, organizations and communities to work together and to ensure that every young person can live up to their full potential, this present investment becomes a future promise. It is a promise that helps students realize their dreams through engagement and excitement. And, it is a promise to continue to foster educational partnerships. For State Farm and Prime Stage, it is a promise simply reflected by the two words of Prime Stage's current season theme - a promise to Imagine and Discover.
Dave Phillips, Public Affairs, (610) 358-7667
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