STEVE FINN MAKES $1M CHALLENGE GRANT TO
COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC AND ARTS (CSMA)
(Mountain View, CA) On the eve of its 40th anniversary year, the Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) at Finn Center has received an early gift: a one million dollar challenge grant from local philanthropist Steve Finn. This is not the first time that Mr. Finn has shown his strong support for CSMA and arts education. Previously, he was the lead donor to the school’s multi-million dollar capital campaign to build its first-ever permanent home at 230 San Antonio Circle in Mountain View. In recognition of that gift, CSMA’s state-of-the-art, 25,000 square-foot facility, which opened in 2004, is named Finn Center.
Mr. Finn’s challenge grant will match every dollar contributed to the school by a qualified donor for the development of an adjacent parcel of land acquired by CSMA last year. The .8 acre property, located at 250 San Antonio Road, provides additional parking and an annex for expanded programming. All donations, including cash, securities and pledges, must be received by December 31, 2007, with payment due by December 31, 2011, and must be made by new and/or lapsed donors.
Mr. Finn, a resident of Los Altos Hills, is a former mayor and city council member. He is the former chairman, president, and CEO of Trust Company of America, an independent trust company with headquarters in Colorado. In making the gift, Mr. Finn said that he hoped that his challenge would inspire others to support the school in developing creative new programs in music, visual and digital arts programs.
“We are enormously grateful to Steve Finn for his generosity and for the entrepreneurial spirit of his gift to CSMA,” commented Jeffry Walker, CSMA Executive Director. “CSMA is now among the top 10 schools of our kind in the nation. The development of our new property adjacent to Finn Centeris critical to our growth and continuing success. The property will greatly increase our capacity to reach still more people of all ages with innovative arts programs. As CSMA looks forward to celebrating its 40th year in 2008, community support in meeting Mr. Finn’s challenge is a solid investment in the cultural life of our region.”
The Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) at Finn Center, a regional center for arts education, is committed to providing Arts for All, regardless of age, level, background or economic means. Since its founding in 1968, the school has grown to become the largest non-profit provider of arts education programs in Silicon Valley and currently has an international faculty of 100+ professional musicians, artists and educators. Annually, CSMA reaches more than 40,000 people of all ages by providing: classes, lessons and camps in music, visual and digital arts; arts-in-the schools programs (Arts in Action, Music in Action); after-school art clubs; concerts, lectures and exhibitions; and free community events. The school awards more than $200,000 in financial aid each year to youth and low-income families. For information about CSMA, see www.arts4all.org. To donate or to learn more about the $1 million dollar challenge grant, contact Kelly Hudson, CSMA Development Director, at 650-917-6800, ext. 303 or khudson@arts4all.org.
### |
