Challenge Funds for Arts Education

Quality arts programs are essential to a vibrant community and they make a significant impact in the lives of children.  Arts-focused young people are more likely to graduate from high school and continue their studies; more likely to enjoy reading; and more likely to be involved in community service.

Why we need to help!

Hillsborough County is the 7th largest school district in the United States, has over 200,000 students district wide and enrollment increases at a rate of 5,000 new students per year.  With the economic downturn and pressure of more and more budget cuts, arts education classes are seriously under funded.  In fact, elementary schools in Hillsborough county get just $4 per student for art and music supplies for the entire year.  Even with school discounts, purchasing just one Crayola crayon color pack of 16 costs almost the entire budget per child.

While the newest schools have 'state of the art' equipment, the older schools are not outfitted to keep up.  Many music teachers have only old equipment with which to teach, and visual arts teachers are purchasing art supplies out of their pockets.

The Unsinkable Krewe of Molly Brown decided to help by creating "The Unsinkable Molly Brown Foundation" in 2001.  The Foundation's programs,  The Musical Instrument and Visual Arts Challenge Fund, encourages our community to keep the arts in our local Hillsborough County Public Schools by raising funds for music and art classrooms in need.  By contributing to the Challenge Fund you can help our schools have twice the impact on arts education - as the grants match $1 for every school dollar raised for the arts.

To make a tax deductable donation to this very worthy cause, please contact:
Alicia Keim
The Unsinkable Molly Brown Foundation
16101 Carencia Lane
Odessa, FL  33556
aliciakeim@tampabay.rr.com