First Niagara Foundation Donates $20,000 to Support Underserved Youth Education Program and Patron Transportation Pilot Program at Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts
By Roslyn Wertheimer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For further information: Barb Prisament 914.643.0923/barb@caramoor.org
KATONAH, N.Y. (June 9, 2016) – Caramoor Center for Music & the Arts is pleased to announce a $20,000 grant awarded by First Niagara Foundation. These funds are designated to support the Underserved Youth Education Program and Patron Transportation Pilot Program. Both initiatives are geared to provide individuals of all ages with affordable means of transportation to Caramoor, making it possible for them access Caramoor’s vast array of history, landscape architecture, visual arts and music programming. “First Niagara recognizes that for many children in our community, this education program may well be the only opportunity they have to experience the beauty, culture and art of Caramoor, and we are proud to help provide transportation services to the schools to bring them here,” said Gary Grandstaff, Business Banking Relationship Manager for First Niagara Bank. “In addition to supporting school students, we are also pleased to help Caramoor launch a new free shuttle service to the general public on the weekends, making it even easier for people of all ages to access great music all summer long.” The objectives of the initiative include:
Promoting accessibility for schoolchildren from underserved school districts by waiving or reducing program fees, providing transportation underwriting, and maintaining scheduling priority.
Providing schoolchildren with cultural enrichment opportunities that comply with New York State curriculum requirements.
Utilizing Caramoor’s 90-acre campus, historic Rosen House, and visiting artist-educators to provide unique and engaging educational experiences for schoolchildren.
Working collaboratively with teachers to ensure that each program is appropriately adapted to respond to the unique needs of the participating schoolchildren.
Caramoor’s music season caters to a wide array of audiences from upstate New York, metro area bedroom commuters, students, and retired professionals living within a 50-mile radius. As part of our mission to make music accessible, we are offering free transportation to Caramoor from Katonah's Metro-North station for all performances (June 18 – August 7). The objectives of the Patron Transportation Pilot Program include:
Expanding Caramoor’s reach beyond the drive-able confines of Westchester, Putnam & Fairfield counties.
Providing accessibility to NYC-based audience and Metro-North-dependent travelers.
Providing an additional element of convenience, accessibility, and safety to our guests, especially those driving after dark.
“We are grateful for First Niagara Foundation's support of our education program and new summer transportation initiative,” said Jeff Haydon, CEO, Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts. “Their investment in the local community helps us reach more children and adults to further Caramoor’s mission of inspiring a lifelong love of music and learning in the arts.” About Caramoor Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts is a performing arts center located on a unique 90-acre setting of Italianate architecture and gardens in Westchester County, NY. It enriches the lives of its audiences through innovative and diverse musical performances of opera, orchestra, chamber, jazz, and American Roots music. Its mission also includes mentoring emerging professional musicians and providing music-based education programs for young children. Summer concerts take place in two outdoor theaters: the 1,508-seat, acoustically superb Venetian Theater and the more intimate, romantic 470-seat Spanish Courtyard. In fall and winter, all concerts are presented in the magnificent Music Room in the Rosen House. Caramoor’s grounds include nine unique perennial gardens and are used for concerts in the summer. Among the gardens are a Sense Circle for the visually impaired, the Sunken Garden, a Butterfly Garden, the Tapestry Hedge, and the Iris and Peony Garden. Today, nearly 15,000 visitors come to the Rosen House annually, including more than 5,000 school-aged children who learn about the House, arts, and culture through Caramoor’s Schools & Kids programs. Portions of the House are also used for public and private events, concerts, lectures, tours, and film shoots. To learn more, visit www.caramoor.org. About The First Niagara Foundation The First Niagara Foundation is a not-for-profit charitable entity. Founded in 1998, the First Niagara Foundation is committed to supporting organizations in the communities in which we live and work, with specific focus on Youth and Education, Community Development and Neighborhood Revitalization. In 2015 First Niagara contributed more than $7.8 million in charitable grants and sponsorships to community partners across the bank’s four-state footprint. First Niagara Bank NA is a multi-state community-oriented bank with approximately 390 branches, $40 billion in assets, $30 billion in deposits, and approximately 5,300 employees providing financial services to individuals, families and businesses across New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts. For additional information on First Niagara, visit us at www.firstniagara.com, follow us on Twitter @FirstNiagara, or like us on Facebook at FirstNiagaraBank. First Niagara Contact Karen Crane VP, Corporate Communications, Tri-State and New England Regions First Niagara Bank 203-789-2752 Karen.crane@fnfg.com