New private funders support for The Right Brain Initiative

Issued February 17, 2011

Meyer Memorial Trust and JP Morgan Chase increase private sector support for innovative arts education in the Portland area

The Right Brain Initiative, a regional arts education program serving nearly 11,000 students, is pleased to announce that it has received increased support from private and corporate foundations this fiscal year. Last summer, JPMorgan Chase contributed to the Initiative for the first time with $25,000. A few months later, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation increased their contribution by 33% from the previous year. This week, the Meyer Memorial Trust announced it has granted the Initiative $150,000 ($75,000 for two years) to help expand the program.

Overall private sector funding for The Right Brain Initiative is currently up 3% over last year and is on track to exceed 2009-10 levels by 17%, despite the region’s struggling economy.

“With our local city and county funding down slightly, local foundations and businesses have really stepped up to fill the gap,” says Marna Stalcup, Program Manager for The Right Brain Initiative. “They see they the value this program brings to our public school systems and its potential to positively impact to the long term economic growth and vitality of the region.”

Foundations and corporations renewing their support of the program along with the Bank of America Charitable Foundation in 2010-11 include: The Collins Foundation, The James F. & Marion L. Miller Foundation, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, the PGE Foundation, The Harold and Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation, The Standard and U.S. Bank/U.S. Bancorp Foundation. NW Natural joins the Meyer Memorial Trust and JPMorgan Chase as a new major funder of the 2010-11 Initiative.

Donations from individual donors has also increased this year, currently up by 46% to nearly $18,000 thus far, as the community rallies to leverage public sector funding sources, which include: the City of Portland, the Oregon Arts Commission, Multnomah County and Clackamas County.

About The Right Brain Initiative
The Right Brain Initiative is a sustainable partnership of public schools, local government, foundations, businesses and the cultural community, which launched its programming in Portland area classrooms in January 2009. The program’s goal is to achieve a measurable impact on learning by integrating the community’s arts and cultural resources into the education of every K-8 student in the Portland metropolitan region’s school districts. The Right Brain Initiative is a project of the Regional Arts & Culture Council, with Young Audiences of Oregon & SW Washington serving as Implementation Partner. Read more online at www.TheRightBrainInitiative.org.