NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Young Audiences of Louisiana (YALA) is delighted to announce a generous donation of $50,000 from the Genesis Inspiration Foundation. This significant contribution will directly support the expansion of our arts integration and education programs, fostering creativity and innovation in students we serve in our region.
The official check presentation will take place on June 12 at 10 a.m. at Young Audiences Charter School (YACS) Burmaster High School (1000 Burmaster St, Gretna). This school’s excellent marching band performed at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival this year and is part of the afterschool and summer programs. The success of this one band offers a prime example of how our programs empower students through artistic expression.
YALA serves 35,000+ students in the Greater New Orleans region with wraparound arts integration from pre-K to high school age in afterschool, in-school, and summer programs, through caregiver workshops at cultural centers and museums, and through professional development for teaching artists and educators. This generous donation will allow us to support these essential programs.
The Genesis Inspiration Foundation is a renowned organization dedicated to accelerating human potential by transforming education. Their commitment to arts education aligns perfectly with our mission to “Inspiring, engaging, and uniting children and communities through arts, education, and culture.”
Richard Bates, one of YALA’s executive co-directors, expressed how incredibly inspired he is “by the way the foundation is supporting worthy causes like arts education.” He’s hopeful that “their leadership in this field will encourage others to fill in gaps that unfortunately are still present and in some areas widening.”
Executive Co-Director Jenny James shares Richard Bates’ enthusiasm,“YALA is so excited at this opportunity. We appreciate supporters recognizing the impact of our work, the importance of arts education for learners, and the joy of arts in classrooms.”
“Genesis Inspiration Foundation is dedicated to empowering young people across the nation to discover the profound impact of the arts within their communities,” said John Guastaferro, executive director of Genesis Inspiration Foundation. “We are honored to support Young Audiences of Louisiana in our joint effort to broaden access to youth arts education, foster creativity, and open doors to a world of possibilities.”