The Allied Arts 2019 Campaign publicly launched on February 6 at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. More than 350 donors, volunteers, civic and corporate leaders, and art administrators gathered for an exciting evening of performances, stories of impact and announcements.

Allied Arts 2019 campaign co-chairs, John Higginbotham, Bank of Oklahoma, and Doug Stussi, Love’s Travel Stops, announced a goal of raising $3.3 million for central Oklahoma’s cultural community. On the night of the Kickoff event, Allied Arts had raised $1.1 million. Since then, the campaign has raised more than $1.9 million, or 58% of the goal. At the event, Higginbotham and Stussi also announced The Honorable Frank and Mrs. Cathy Keating as 2019 campaign honorary chairs. The Keatings spoke to the crowd about the integral role the arts plays in economic development, quality of life and education.

Throughout the evening, Oklahoma’s burgeoning artistic talent was on full display with show-stopping performances. A quartet representing El Sistema performed classical music; Life Change Ballroom

students showcased their ballroom dance moves to a medley of songs; winners of Sooner Theatre’s Voice of the Heartland contest delivered powerhouse vocal performances; and seasoned youth performers and special needs students from KidsAlive! closed the event with a piece from Broadway’s The Lion King.

In addition to the performances, the beneficiaries of Allied Arts-funded programs shared their personal stories. Life Change Ballroom dancers imparted that they are learning more than dance routines. They receive mentorship and life-skills training, transforming them into leaders in their schools and communities. A grandmother of a KidsAlive! student revealed that her grandson was non-verbal before his participation in theatre. Featured on the campaign video shown at the Kickoff event were examples of healing arts programs, such as free movement classes for Parkinson’s patients and guitar lessons for veterans.

With three months remaining until the campaign close, it’s not too late to make your donation if you have not already. Every gift makes an impact on the mission of Allied Arts to “enrich our communities through advancement of the arts.”

2019 Campaign for the Arts

art mattersWith art can change a life.youAllied Arts Quarterly Newsletter Volume 13, Issue 3, Spring 2019

Thank you for believing that Art Can make a difference!

KidsAlive! performs at Campaign Kickoff

Doug Stussi, Deborah McAuliffe Senner and John Higginbotham

Allied Arts Pays Tribute to The Honorable Frank & Mrs. Cathy Keating

Since 1971, Allied Arts has conducted an annual campaign to generate vital resources for central Oklahoma’s varied cultural landscape. For the last 21 years, Allied Arts has recognized an individual or couple during the campaign for their extraordinary contributions to the arts and community. The 2019 Honorary Chairs are Cathy and Frank Keating.

Frank served as governor of the state for two terms, leading recovery and healing efforts after the Murrah building bombing. A compassionate leader, he raised more than six million dollars to fund scholarships for the nearly 200 children left with only one or no parents. Frank is an artist himself as the author of four award-winning children’s books, biographies of Will Rogers, Theodore Roosevelt, George Washington, and Standing Bear.

A fourth-generation Oklahoman, Cathy organized and implemented the international Prayer Service after the bombing, dedicating her time as First Lady to aid those affected by the disaster. She also founded Friends of the Oklahoma Governor’s Mansion, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the historic property’s restoration and preservation. Currently, Cathy serves on the Board of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, where she founded and is chairing the Annie Oakley Society, a women’s leadership organization.

The 2019 Honorary Chair Event was held on March 11 on the 22nd floor of BOK Park Plaza which afforded stunning views of downtown Oklahoma City. In addition to serving as a tribute to all that the Keatings have done for the arts, the event is an integral component of the fundraising campaign, generating more than $684,000 to arts education for Oklahoma schoolchildren, healing arts for the elderly and veterans, and quality programming for all.

Special thanks to Bank of Oklahoma for hosting the event.

Honorary Chairs Cathy and Frank Keating surrounded by their grandchildren

Terri Cornett and Mick Cornett, and Collins Peck and Rachel Peck at the 2019 Honorary Chair Event

Adam Brooks, Judy Hatfield, Brian Byrnes and Sunny Cearley at the 2019 Honorary Chair Event

Your Investment in Action

Invest in Your Community’s Future

In the second cycle of its 2019 fiscal year, Allied Arts distributed more than $150,000 in educational outreach and capacity-building grants in support of 51 unique projects.

Through the Educational Outreach Program, Allied Arts funds a variety of initiatives that bring vital arts education to Oklahoma schoolchildren with a focus on students who lack the resources to participate in extracurricular arts programming, or who attend schools with little to

no arts education during school hours. During the 2017-2018 school year, more than 115,000 students were reached with innovative, hands-on arts experiences throughout the state of Oklahoma with Allied Arts Educational Outreach funding. When including all of Allied Arts grantmaking, Allied Arts funding provided more than 700,000 arts experiences to Oklahoma children last year. Projects range from free art-making weekend workshops allowing families to spend quality time together to teacher-led art activities integrated into regular Monday-Friday classroom curriculum. The projects encourage children to tap into their creativity, sharpen their problem-solving skills, foster a spirit of teamwork with class- and camp-mates, and gain an appreciation for a variety of art forms.

The Allied Arts capacity-building grant program provides funding to strengthen the organizational standing of cultural nonprofits. Projects supported in this funding cycle include: technology updates to enhance staff efficiency and customer service; professional development opportunities for staff; and enrollment in nonprofit training programs.

For a comprehensive list of award recipients and amounts, please visit alliedartsokc.com/grants.

Are you thinking about ways to plan for your and your community’s future? Consider including Allied Arts in your plans to provide perpetual support for arts education and programming in our state with the benefits of increased income and/or tax advantages. There are numerous ways to make a gift to Allied Arts, including through your investment accounts, retirement plans, or a through a charitable remainder trust. Below are a few of the many options to consider.

Wills & TrustsYou can designate an amount or percentage of your estate to the Allied Arts Endowment Fund and, in some cases, receive a reduction in federal estate taxes.

Charitable Beneficiary TransferThe remaining balance in a financial account, Certificate of Deposit, brokerage account or retirement account may be transferred directly to a charity upon your death by designating the account as Payable on Death (“POD”) or Transfer on Death (“TOD”). You may also name Allied Arts as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy. These transfers may be made easily by contacting your financial institution to obtain a beneficiary designation form.

Charitable Remainder TrustYou may place cash or property in a trust that pays annual income to you or a designated beneficiary for life or a term of years. Upon the trust’s termination, its assets

benefit the Allied Arts Endowment Fund. You may receive tax benefits in the year you establish your trust.

To learn more, contact the Allied Arts planned giving team at plannedgiving@alliedartsokc.com.

Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park at Spencer Elementary

Allied Arts’ signature fundraising event, ARTini will take place on April 12, 2019 at Science Museum Oklahoma from 7 P.M. to 11 P.M. ARTini, sponsored by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, is one of the year’s most popular fundraising events, bringing together local restaurants, entertainment and artists for a night of fun for a good cause. This year’s event, STARtini, will present a galaxy theme—from décor and lighting to entertainment and cocktails—and guests are invited to dress the part.

ARTini is put on by Catalyst, Allied Arts’ emerging professionals group. The event could not be possible without our powerhouse volunteers, led by our event co-chairs, Christian Pearson and Tommy Yi.

Christian Pearson manages OkSessions, a media start-up and digital marketing agency focused on building a culture of live music in central Oklahoma. Christian has a background in banking, and has been on the Catalyst Board for 4 years. Christian is a musician, and organizes music events including Skirvin Jazz Club, Saints Sessions, and Deep Deuce Sessions. He’s an avid fan of Allied Arts member organizations including the

Oklahoma City Philharmonic, the Oklahoma City Ballet, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, and Science Museum Oklahoma. He lives in the Plaza District, and loves being surrounded by diverse people, art, and experiences. He loves everything about the theme - STARtini - from astrophysics to pop sci-fi.

Tommy Yi is passionate about designing products that delight users and providing effective solutions that addresses the needs of the business. He is passionate about new technology startups and is actively involved with Oklahoma City’s startup entrepreneurial community and economic growth. 

His background is in design innovation, interaction design, customer experience, digital transformations, and product design. He has over a decade of experience working with globally recognized brands.

Tommy serves on the boards of Techlahoma, Creative Oklahoma, and InnovateOK. He also founded the first co-working space in Oklahoma, and has founded several tech companies. He is also a co-founder of StarSpace46.

ARTini 2019 – Meet the Co-Chairs

ARTini co-chairs Christian Pearson and Tommy Yi.

Save the date for the 16th annual ARTini on Friday, April 12. Sponsored by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, the 2019 event will be held at a new venue, Science Museum Oklahoma, to align with the STAR-TINI theme. Chaired by Christian Pearson and Tommy Yi and coordinated by the Allied Arts Catalyst group, STAR-TINI will feature art for auction from more than 100 local artists, custom martinis from some of the metro’s favorite restaurants and lounges – including Frida, Guyutes, Ned’s Starlite Lounge, Pump Bar/Bunker Club and Red Piano, and live intergalactic entertainment.

Tickets are $100 per person, and are available for purchase at ArtiniOKC.com. Sponsorship is also still available. For more information, please contact leann.farha@alliedartsokc.com.

Tickets for “Kristin Chenoweth: My Love Letter to Oklahoma,” presented by ARTSOK, INC. and the Kristin Chenoweth Arts & Education Fund, are on sale now. This concert, headlined by Oklahoma Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth and accompanied by the OKC Philharmonic, will take place at the Civic Center Music Hall on May 14, 2019 at 7:30 P.M., and the proceeds of the event will benefit Allied Arts.

Chenoweth is a TONY® and EMMY® award-winning singer and actress. She is a graduate of Oklahoma City University with a Master’s degree in Opera Performance. She is known for her roles in Broadway musicals like “Wicked” and “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” while also playing roles in television series like “Glee” and “Pushing Daisies,” and most recently NBC’s “Trial & Error” receiving critical acclaim for her performance as Heiress Lavinia Peck-Foster. She is also an inductee into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, as well as the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.

You can purchase your tickets today by visiting www.okcciviccenter.com or by calling (405) 594-8300.

Save the Date for STAR-TINI

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JOSE FREEDE | INASMUCH FOUNDATION | SHAHNAAZ & RONNIE IRANI | K IRKPATRICK FOUNDATION | TRACY & DAVID KYLE | BOB MEINDERS

HERMAN & LADONNA MEINDERS | MUSTANG FUEL CORPORATION | JEANEEN NAIFEH | OKC FRIDAY | THE OKLAHOMAN | KELLEY RASH

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PROCEEDS BENEFITING

WITH THE OKC PHILHARMONIC

Next month, be on the lookout for art in your neighborhood OnCue store. Starting in April, OnCue will sell reusable, plastic cups featuring colorful splashes of dance, visual art and song. For every cup sold, OnCue will donate 50 cents to Allied Arts. Additional details will be made available on the Allied Arts Facebook page. Stay tuned!

Spring is upon us which means it’s almost time for the Festival of the Arts hosted by Arts Council Oklahoma City. Every year, Allied Arts manages a food booth at the festival. We’d love your help serving gyros and other Greek specialties to festival goers. Three-hour shifts are available throughout the duration of the festival.

If you’d like to sign up, please email marumugam@alliedartsokc.com for details.

Fueling the ArtsFestival of the Arts Volunteers

In celebration of its 50th anniversary, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation launched the Great Idea Challenge, a call for nonprofits, companies, artists and individuals to bring forward innovative ideas for projects, programs and activities that will impact the community for the next 50 years. Nearly 100 proposals were submitted for consideration.

Allied Arts is proud to announce that we are one of six grant recipients selected by the Great Idea Challenge committee. With Foundation funding, Allied Arts will build a new website featuring a cultural calendar of nonprofit arts events taking place throughout the community. The online platform

will also include a menu of art educational programs for youth, linking educators with free and low-cost arts opportunities for schools

across the state, as well as offer last-minute, discounted tickets for performing arts events. The website will launch later this year.

Great Idea Challenge Recipient

Staff celebrates the Great Idea Challenge award with Board Chair Tricia Everest (center) and Vice Chair Steve Mason (far right)

Join one of OKC’s favorite traditions - volunteer at the Festival of the Arts Allied Arts food booth

Sonni Adams, local acrylic and mixed media artist, has lived in Oklahoma nearly her whole life. Influenced by David Fischil, Diego Rivera, Toulouse-Lautrec and Frida Kahlo, she loves to scratch the canvas of her artwork with as many materials as she can get her hands on. The arts have been a key part of her life since childhood.

“I was lucky to grow up with a relatively robust arts program in Edmond public schools and my parents have always been beyond supportive of me,” Adams said. “Any class I wanted to take or visit they would make happen without hesitation. Their house is a gallery of older work that I’m desperately trying to get them to switch out.”

Adams likes to create he works depending on her mood, and enjoys going through the history of her works and being able to reference the exact mood she was in during that time. She also enjoys taking old materials and making them new through her art.

“I tend to use materials I find at estate sales, I love the idea of using materials sourced from other people’s homes to live on in new work,” Adams said.

Adams is a member of Catalyst, Allied Arts’ emerging professionals group.

“I’m a Catalyst Member for the way that money impacts the community. I want every kid to squish some paint between their fingers and just make something. Everyone is creative!”

Adam’s work will be up for auction at Allied Arts’ STARtini, taking place on April 12, 2019 at Science Museum Oklahoma.

Artist Story – Sonni Adams

(Left) Sonni Adams; (Right) ARTini Artwork - Rubber Plant on a Chair

Educational Outreach Donors

Bank of America

Dobson Family

Foundation

Flogisitx

Hobby Lobby

JPMorgan Chase

Kimray

UMB Bank

Non-Profit U.S. Postage

PAID Oklahoma City

Permit #581

• Campaign Kickoff

• Honorary Chair Event

• ARTini: Save the Date

• Great Idea Challenge

• Festival of the Arts

• Grant Announcement

• Planned Giving

• Employee Giving

IN THIS ISSUE:

1015 N. Broadway, Ste. 200Oklahoma City, OK 73102405.278.8944www.AlliedArtsOKC.com

Save big. Make an impact.

@ALLIEDARTSOKC

OKCityCard

Don’t forget to download the new OKCityCard app on your mobile device. OKCityCard partners and discounts are updated in real-time. By accepting push notifications, you’ll be alerted when you’re in the

vicinity of a partner offering OKCityCard discounts – so you’ll never forget to use your card again!

Next time you shop on Amazon, visit smile.amazon.com and choose Allied Arts as your charitable organization. Amazon will

then donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to Allied Arts.

The OKCityCard is your passport to the best of eating out, shopping, services, and arts and entertainment in the metro. With a $50 donation to Allied Arts, you receive the 2019 OKCityCard which features 12 months of savings at more than 400 locations!

If you’re avoiding meat on Fridays during Lent, seafood is your friend! Check out the extensive menu of shrimp, crab and fish at Trapper’s Fishcamp & Grill. Present your OKCityCard to deduct 15% off your restaurant bill. You can also receive 15% off at Pearl’s Crabtown and Pearl’s Oyster Bar.

Soccer, or futbol, fans rejoice. The Oklahoma City Energy FC kicked off its season in March. Use your OKCityCard to cheer on the Greens at Taft Stadium, and receive $2 off tickets online at EnergyFC.com or at the box office on matchday.

Looking for a fun yet educational activity to keep your kiddos entertained during Spring Break? Use your OKCityCard at a number of museums to receive 2-for-1 admission, including at Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History and Science Museum Oklahoma.