ArtsKC Fund Honors Starlight Participation

For the second year in a row, Starlight Theatre was honored by ArtsKC for participating in the ArtsKC Fund Campaign. Starlight received the 2016 award for “Most Dollars Raised at a Non-Profit Organization” after receiving charitable contributions from 100 percent of its 38 year-round staff members. Thanks to the generosity of Starlight employees, more than $4,200 will directly benefit ArtsKC grant recipients this year.

In early May, Starlight employees participated in a giving campaign to heighten awareness of ArtsKC’s mission. Activities included a Cinco de Mayo celebration with a salsa and guacamole competition and a raffle giveaway for all who donated. Ultimately, Starlight’s campaign resulted in a nearly 10-percent increase in total employee contributions over 2015.

Starlight leadership keenly understands the need to participate as a charitable contributor, as well as a provider, of the arts in Kansas City. “We have been fortunate to receive operating support from ArtsKC in the form of Ovation grants for several years,” said Starlight president and CEO Rich Baker. “We are grateful for the opportunity to extend the reach of ArtsKC’s generosity with contributions of our own. I believe the ArtsKC Fund is especially pertinent because I know Starlight’s pledges will support our artistic peers within our own community, and this will serve to impact everyone who lives here.”

The ArtsKC Fund was launched in 2007. This annual campaign exists to raise funds that are then used to benefit local arts organizations and individuals through grants.

Since its inception, the ArtsKC Fund has awarded more than 800 grants. These awards, worth more than $3.4 million, have aided 150 arts and social service organizations and 176 individual artists within the five-county Kansas City metro area. In 2016, the ArtsKC Fund raised more than $500,000 to support future artistic endeavors.