FUND FOR THE ARTS KICKS-OFF 2005 CAMPAIGN

WITH ARTS CELEBRATION

Community is Invited to Participate in Festivities on Wednesday, February 2

at Brown Theatre

Louisville, KY – The Fund for the Arts 2005 Campaign Kickoff will be held on Wednesday, February 2, at noon at the Brown Theatre. The community is invited to the hour-long program, showcasing outstanding performances from several arts organizations that receive annual support from the Fund for the Arts.

“It is our goal in 2005 to capture the emotions of the arts,” said Rick Guillaume, Chairman, President and CEO of Operations, BB&T, and Chairman of the 2005 Campaign. “Our campaign theme, See it…Hear it… Feel it… Believe it, does just that. More than a rallying cry, it is an expression of the passion we all feel towards the Arts and our wonderful community.”

Highlights of the program will be a performance by pianist Euntaek Kim, a Gheens Exceptional Young Artist, and Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker, performed by the Louisville Ballet. The finale will be a Muhammad Ali Tribute, sung by the combined choirs of the Bach Society, the Opera Chorus, the Louisville Youth Choir and Children's Choir. Actors Theatre, The Louisville Orchestra, Stage One and Walden Theatre also will have performers participating in the Kickoff.

“The Fund for the Arts is dedicated to making the most of every donation,” stated Allan Cowen, President and CEO. “By bringing stability and cohesive direction to the Arts, the Fund provides the roadmap of innovation and program excellence while ensuring broad community access to our multi-talented arts organizations.”

Last year, the campaign raised more than $7.6 million. Individuals and corporations to date have committed nearly $4 million to the 2005 campaign. More than 250 companies will run employee campaigns in the coming months. It is anticipated that employee campaigns will exceed $3 million for the first time this year. “The Kickoff really revs up all the employee coordinators who attend the event,” exclaimed Barbara Sexton Smith, the Fund's Chief Operations Officer. “Their excitement will translate into successful campaigns so we can hit that $3 million mark.”

To meet this challenge, the Humana Foundation will match all gifts through new employee campaigns, and the Gheens Foundation will match gifts of $1 per day or $364 per year.

The Fund for the Arts is the oldest united arts fund in the country, allocating funds to 24 member groups and programs, including grants to nearly 200 community organizations and schools throughout the region.