SoFA Foundation request for support

Arts Education The Time is Now

Dear Community Leader,

Henderson graduates go on to make a name in outstanding careers in education, cinema, book publishing and more. Some return to our community to build successful restaurants, shops and businesses. Collectively, these home grown arts ambassadors further place Henderson on the map.

Henderson's roots run deep with John J Audubon and WC Handy as the foundation of our artistic history There is clearly something in the water as Henderson has churned out many famous connections Many more up and comers sit in elementary schools now Henderson County Schools (HCS) is the only way the majority of students can access the growth afforded in learning all that comes from arts education.

Henderson flourishes with artisans in its highly creative and vibrantly growing downtown Our local students contribute to that healthy vibrancy With technology changing and more accessibility to a broader and collaborative arts education, many more artisans can remain local, serve globally, add to the tax base and enrich our local economy.

Coverletterto packet

Please consider a sizable gift to further grow our community economically by contributing to arts education in Henderson County You would be hard pressed to not find one thing in home, office, on the sports fields or anywhere in our community not impacted by the arts and creativity

Increased wellbeing, self-confidence and self-understanding, enhanced communication skills, and improved cognition are only a few of the reasons for teaching the arts. Arts education simply lays the foundation for a better workforce in any career field

This is a time to value the arts in education and this enrichment can not be added or achieved without community investing in its growth Whether big or small, your gift will make a difference in how we all live our lives in Henderson County.

Sincerely, The SoFA Foundation Board of Directors

Visit our website to learn more about each of our directors and watch some videos www.hendersonsofafoundation.org

Who Is?

The School of Fine Arts Foundation, Inc. or otherwise known as The SoFA Foundation is a 501(C)3 non-profit separate from the school-based accelerated program within Henderson County High School (HCHS) titled School of Fine Arts or SoFA.

The SoFA Foundation is an ADVOCATE for creative thinking, technical skill sets, and arts-centric programs that give our students an edge for better career readiness and college development.

The SoFA Foundation was created with the support of Henderson County Schools to eventually support an integrated arts curriculum K–12 to ADVANCE creative critical thinking skills at all levels.

Currently, The SoFA Foundation supports SoFA and the Fine Arts Department at HCHS through fundraising and volunteer SUPPORT to best set the stage for the next century of creative careers and jobs of the future.

HCHS Financial Facts Allocations Student Per Discipline

INSTRUMENTAL

HCHS is a Title 1 School.

This means that the school’s poverty percentage is at or above 40% low income. HCHS is actually at 51.9% "economically disadvantaged”, meaning that ALL students are on free and reduced lunch now. Out of 1,965 students, 1020 of those students are economically disadvantaged. 24 students in the total population are reported as homeless.

Contributions To Community

Lasting Impact Arts Help Students Thrive

90% 85% 90%

"It's given me an outlet to process my emotions”

"It’s kind of been the only thing I can use to let things out of my brain in a healthy way.”

"I vent by drawing”

“It gave me a constant”

"The arts have given me a place where I feel comfortable. Not only have they pushed me to become a better person and artist, but they've allowed me to gain some confidence and have some overall personal growth that I would have otherwise possibly lacked.”

"Not to be dramatic, but they kept me alive.”

Future Employability The

Arts Education Edge

By analyzing 25,000 students, renowned UCLA researcher James Catterall found the following as a result of Arts Education:

Clear evidence that sustained involvement in particular art forms—music and theater are highly correlated with success in mathematics and reading.

The fine arts provide learners with non-academic benefits such as:: self-esteem, motivation, aesthetic awareness, cultural exposure, creativity, improved emotional expression, as well as social harmony and appreciation of diversity.

The arts foster teamwork and collaboration, critical thinking, problem-solving, public speaking, tolerance, flexibility and attention to detail essential skills that employers often share they have trouble finding in candidates. These skills are crucial to any “innovation economy.” According to an IBM poll, for-profit CEOs rank creativity at the top of their lists of important leadership qualities.

Socially and economically disadvantaged children and teenagers who have high levels of arts engagement or arts learning show more positive outcomes in a variety of areas than their low-arts-engaged peers or at-risk with no arts engagement. The result is:

Better school grades, Improved test scores Honors society membership, High school graduation College enrollment and achievement

Volunteering Engagement in school or local politics.

In addition, “at-risk” teenagers or young adults with a history of intensive arts experiences show achievement levels closer to, and in some cases exceeding, the levels shown by the general population studied.

The Economics Arts Careers Profit

Not only can the arts change outcomes for young people, creative industries make up a significant percentage of the nation’s GDP. According to new data released in March 2022 by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), arts and culture added $876.7 billion, or 4.2 percent, to national GDP, more than agriculture, mining, transportation or warehousing. “While arts and cultural industries and workers nationwide have sustained heavy losses (due to Covid-19), the sector continues to play an outsized role in the U.S. economy—as the new data demonstrate,” said NEA Chair Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson. .

Starving Artists? Not Hardly

The below graphic highlights only a few career choices. With the coming of AI and evolution of more tech, there are many emerging creative careers paying exceptionally well and often can be remote. Many of those careers will benefit Henderson directly and indirectly. This listing is the tip of the large pool of choices driving the US and global economic engine well into the future.

Giving Levels What

Gift Could Help Fund

It

to our to fill the critical enrichment our students and desperately require to compete in today's environment. Will you help?

up to our community to fill the critical enrichment gap our students and faculty It

The following are examples of many artistic needs at HCHS. This list is not exhaustive of all opportunities and needs within HCS. There are currently at least $1 million in needs to bring HCHS and HCS up to basic enrichment goals to help launch our students into broader lives and prepare for today's high paying creative careers. Many of the needs have not been met in over 50 years.

HCS nickel tax has and remains lower than neighboring counties. This does not stop fulfilling critical and growing needs with annual rising costs. HCS is required to first support the highest poverty levels, core facility maintenance and upgrades, KDE curriculum and fiscal requirements, compensation packages, and more. These expenditures take precedence over enrichment support.

$25,000+ $25,000+

Arts Education Circle Arts Education Circle

1/4 funding of lighting, seating and other existing auditorium upgrades for all performances

1/2 funding of private professional lessons to help students excel beyond limited class time/resources

Full funding of new band uniforms

$10,000+ $10,000+

Arts Education Leader Arts Education Leader

1/5 funding of storage and prop shop used by all disciplines

1/4 funding of sound-proofing of band/choral area

1/2 funding of professional visual art teaching tables, chairs, storage and desks Full funding of new set of timpani $5,000

1/4 of support of new band semi trailer (tires and wrapping)

1/2 of free summer musical theatre camp

Full funding for one 6 wing display panels for art shows (multiple needed)

Student Scholarships for all disciplines Art kits for new students

In-School Success Arts Engage the Critical Needs Students

The youth with the highest propensity for drop out are generally economically challenged and the highest risk for other social issues. This segment of the school population largely gravitates to the arts making up 80 percent of the HCHS students on average. The arts need to be fed to feed this critical need.

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