KANSAS CITY, MO.- The Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City announced today that the ArtsKC Fund achieved its goal and raised $725,205 to support arts organizations, arts programs and local artists from combined contributions from the 2008 ArtsKC Fund Workplace Giving Campaign, Renaissance Circle, the City of Kansas City, Missouri and many individual and corporate donations. The announcement was made May 22 at the ArtsKC Fund Curtain Call Celebration at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre’s Copaken Stage located in the H&R Block headquarters.

The ArtsKC Fund is a united arts fund in the metropolitan Kansas City area that raises new money to support a wide range of arts organizations and artists. Its purpose is to provide stable sources of new financial support for the arts, broaden access to high-quality arts experiences, and sustain excellence in the arts and arts administration. After a successful test campaign in 2007, this inaugural campaign was expanded to include more than double the number of businesses participating from throughout the metropolitan area.

Workplace giving campaigns were held in 72 companies and organizations this spring between February 1 and April 30, giving employees the options of payroll deductions or one-time gifts. The Francis Family Foundation contributed a generous $100,000 grant that matched contributions to the workplace giving campaign. In addition to the workplace giving campaigns, the City of Kansas City, Missouri committed $80,000 to the ArtsKC Fund. The Renaissance Circle members, individual donors at the $10,000 level, and corporate donations also contributed to the success of this year’s campaign.

“Support for the ArtsKC Fund represents all sectors from business to non-profits. This is a way to collectively come together as a metro area to support the arts,” said Joan Israelite, President of the Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City. "Working together, all donors to the ArtsKC Fund can be proud that $601,515 - a 50 percent increase over last year - will be distributed to ArtsKC Fund grant recipients beginning in the next 60 days."

Each company took different approaches to engage their employees and encourage contributions to the Fund ranging from special events at arts venues, to bringing in area arts groups to perform, to employee art exhibitions.

McCownGordon Construction, LLC organized Art Madness, a week-long series of arts activities tied into the March Madness theme, including hosting arts groups such as the American Jazz Museum and the Kansas City Ballet.

“By relating our ArtsKC Fund Campaign to something that people know about and are involved in otherwise, we were able to draw in our employees and inform them about arts-related events and organizations in the city. The campaign and the week’s activities were very well received,” said Nathan Benjamin, Senior Project Manager for McCownGordon Construction, LLC and ArtsKC Fund Employee Campaign Manager.

Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences (KCUMB) also held a week-long campaign called Rhythm of Givin’: Steppin’ into the Arts which included employee tango classes, trolley rides and performances by local arts groups.

“Our goal at KCUMB, throughout the campaign and throughout the year, is to raise awareness about the importance of the arts and the importance of funding them, as well as funding new artists,” said KCUMB President and Chief Executive Officer Karen L. Pletz, J.D. “The KCUMB community responded extremely positively to the campaign which was highly creative and a great deal of fun. We are proud to have contributed so significantly to the success of the ArtsKC Fund."

State Street Corporation’s primary goal was to raise awareness of the arts in our community, while trying to reach a financial target through employee giving and a company match. “We met both of our goals and certainly look forward to participating again next year,” said Dorrie Holland, Vice President for State Street Corporation and ArtsKC Fund Employee Campaign Manager. “The recycled sculpture contest resulted in a number of team efforts that were surprising. I received many thank you’s for holding the performances by several arts groups including City in Motion in our lobby.”

The Curtain Call Celebration was attended by Employee Campaign Managers from participating companies, as well as leaders from the business, civic and arts communities. Speakers at the event were Bob Regnier, Bank of Blue Valley and the Vice Chairman of the Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City, Lisa Cordes, Heart of America Shakespeare Festival and ArtsKC Fund Ovation Grant recipient, and Fred Logan, Logan, Logan & Watson, L.C. and Chairman of the Arts Council.