Contact: Meg Wise Director of Development 215.922.3456, ext. 311 mwise@fleisher.org

Fleisher Art Memorial 719 Catharine Street Philadelphia, PA 19147 www.fleisher.org

CAROLE HAAS GRAVAGNO SELECTED TO RECEIVE FLEISHER'S 2010 FOUNDER'S AWARD

THE FLEISHER ART MEMORIAL CELEBRATES THE 2010 FOUNDER'S AWARD GALA BY HONORING ONE OF PHILADELPHIA'S MOST ARDENT ARTS SUPPORTERS

Philadelphia, PA — The Fleisher Art Memorial's Board of Directors and the Founder's Honorary Committee Co-Chairs, Governor Edward G. Rendell and Mayor Michael Nutter, are pleased to announce that Fleisher's 2010 Founder's Award will be presented to Carole Haas Gravagno at the Founder’s Award Gala on Friday, June 18th, at Fleisher, a community art center in Philadelphia.

A compassionate advocate for youth and friend of the arts, Carole Haas Gravagno has strengthened Philadelphia's artistic and educational resources by sharing her expertise and contributing generously to dozens of nonprofit organizations for more than twenty-five years. Her current board roles with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Arden Theatre Company, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and Please Touch Museum — as well as past commitments to Art in City Hall, the National Liberty Museum, Settlement Music School, and Strings for Schools, among many others — attest to her passion and dedication. Carole has personally reached out to help open doors of opportunity for young people in the region, transforming lives by providing access to the arts and investing in their own development as artists. As Fleisher seeks to support the creativity of all students who wish to learn in their own ways and on their own terms, we are inspired by Carole’s belief in the ability of art to change lives, and we thank her for making possible a wide range of cultural experiences for so many citizens.

Fleisher's Founder's Award is presented each year to individuals who are deeply committed to supporting arts and culture in the Philadelphia region. It is awarded in memory of Samuel S. Fleisher, a man devoted to creating accessible cultural opportunities for all people. His vision continues to thrive at the Fleisher Art Memorial, which provides arts education programs for an annual audience of 17,000 adults and children.

Matthew Braun, Fleisher's Executive Director, commented on Ms. Gravagno's selection to receive the Award, “It is truly an honor to present this year's Founder's Award to Carole. She is a terrific example of someone who really understands how the arts can transform lives, and does all in her power to enable people, especially our region's young people, to pick up an instrument, sign up for a class… Her generous spirit sets a wonderful example.”

The Founder's Award will be presented during a festive gathering on Friday, June 18th, 2010 at Fleisher. The evening will begin with a reception at 5:30 PM, and will proceed with the award presentation ceremony at 6:30 PM. With 200 guests expected to attend, the Founder's event promises to be a grand celebration of Fleisher's impact on the community and the significant contributions that Carole Haas Gravagno has made to Philadelphia's cultural life.

Two new partnerships this year help link the Gala to Carole's philanthropic interests. In recognition of Carole's commitment to music education for youth, a trio of young string musicians from Musicopia will perform during the reception. In addition, Fleisher commissioned a class at Moore College of Art & Design to produce the 2010 Award. Students in Instructor Dawn Bergmaier's Junior/Senior Metals class received an assignment to design an original art object that captures the spirit of the event and the honoree. Public art consultant Marsha Moss, artist Diane Burko, and Fleisher board members Frances Dalton and Melissa Coopersmith, served as jury and selected a piece of wearable art created by Moore student Mary Carnes for Fleisher to purchase and present to Carole Haas Gravagno at the Gala. “We are delighted that Moore can play a role in honoring Carole Haas Gravagno, a generous and enthusiastic supporter of the arts in Philadelphia,” said Happy Craven Fernandez, president of Moore College of Art & Design. “The opportunity for our students to create an award for Carole exemplifies her commitment to Philadelphia’s unique collaborative cultural environment.”

Proceeds from the 2010 Founder's Award Gala will help support Fleisher's mission to make art accessible to all, regardless of economic means, background, or artistic experience.

The Fleisher Art Memorial honors Samuel Fleisher's legacy to “invite the world to come and learn art” by offering a wide range of arts education programs for an annual audience of 17,000 adults and youth. Programming includes studio art classes, artist residencies in local public schools and social service centers, and art exhibitions and cultural events.

Musicopia is a nonprofit organization that works with approximately 100 of our region's professional musicians to present a wealth of music education programs. Musicopia is also the leading advocate for restoring and improving in-school music instruction throughout the Greater Philadelphia area. For more information, visit www.musicopia.net.

Moore College of Art & Design is dedicated to excellence in art and design. Founded in 1848, Moore is the first and only visual arts college for women in the United States. Through its undergraduate bachelor of fine arts degrees for women and its coeducational graduate programs, Moore cultivates creativity, promotes scholarship and prepares its students for professional careers in the arts by emphasizing critical thinking, problem solving, risk-taking, and strong communication skills. Moore is dedicated to producing graduates that distinguish themselves as leaders in their fields. For more information, visit www.moore.edu.

For more information, please contact Meg Wise at 215-922-3456 x311 or mwise@fleisher.org.

Fleisher's programs are supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, the Wallace Foundation, the William Penn Foundation, local foundation and corporate grants, and generous contributions from more than 2,000 student members and friends.

Fleisher is a source of inspiration, creativity, and community. Every year, more than 17,000 people experience the transformative power of art by participating in our studio classes, exhibitions, and community-based programming. We are a nonprofit organization committed to advancing the vision of our founder, Samuel S. Fleisher, who believed that art is one of society's greatest assets and equalizers, and from the doorway of his Graphic Sketch Club, “invited the world to come and learn art.” Through all of our work, we strive to make art accessible to everyone regardless of economic means, background, or artistic experience. We operate one of the nation's first community-based arts centers, providing free and low-cost studio art classes along with opportunities for beginning and seasoned artists to exhibit their work in a professional gallery setting. To further enhance our mission, Fleisher's arts education programming reaches deeply into local schools and community centers, and has brought us national recognition and powerful opportunities to advocate for and shape arts education initiatives throughout the region and country.

Visit www.fleisher.org to learn more.