The Dream...
Sample online newsletter of Heartwood in the Hills, August 2004
Heartwood dancers perform for the Wood Festival, June 2004
Heartwood Grows Through New
and Renewed Partnerships
| Heartwood in the Hills is appreciative of the long standing partnership it maintains with the Ann M. Martin Foundation. Since 1994 the Foundation has supported Heartwood by providing partial funding for our part-time staff. This has made it possible for Heartwood to continue its mission to provide arts opportunities for the people of rural West Virginia, regardless of their ability to pay. The Ann M. Martin Foundation was established in 1990 by children’s book author Ann M. Martin, author of the Baby Sitters Club books and California Diaries. Ann Martin has a strong interest in funding small, grass-roots organizations, with a special focus on arts programs for children and hard-to-fund projects. The Foundation provides financial support to causes benefiting children, education and literacy programs, and homeless people and animals. |
 Wood Festival 2002 |
During the last two years several new and exciting partnerships have been formed at Heartwood. Combined with the on-going support of the Ann M. Martin Foundation, Calhoun County Banks and the generous contributions of individuals, these new alliances give Heartwood the resources it needs to continue its commitment to cultural enrichment in West Virginia. |
| Heartwood is extremely proud of its new partnership with The Robert H. Mollohan Family Charitable Foundation. In the Fall of 2002, the school received its first grant from The Mollohan Foundation to purchase lighting equipment for the December Celebration. Prior to this, Heartwood had borrowed stage lights from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History. A second grant awarded to Heartwood in 2003 allowed the school to purchase additional lighting. Subsequent grants have provided Heartwood with scholarship money, resource monies to purchase dance and art supplies and funding to publish this newsletter. The Mollohan Foundation’s goal is to give students an opportunity to further their education and to understand the range of opportunities that are available within their home state. |
| Dominion Resources Services, Inc., and the Calhoun County Family Resource Network joined the list of Heartwood funders in 2003 by contributing generously to the Heartwood Scholarship Fund. Dominion has continued its support with a second grant in 2004. This funding, combined with on-going scholarship contributions by Hill School Improvement Council, makes it possible for many children and adults with little or no financial resources to participate in Heartwood programs. Heartwood also continues its partnership with Pleasant Hill Elementary School where faculty recommend children for Heartwood programs. |
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| The West Virginia Division of Culture and History awarded Heartwood a general support grant in 2003 for one year to hire a part-time Volunteer/Transportation Coordinator. This allowed Heartwood to intensify its focus on the goals of its five-year plan, with emphasis on improvement of support services and strengthening and deepening connections to the community. During the course of the grant the Heartwood Volunteer Network was formally organized giving structure to the hard work and dedication of its volunteers, who have been the backbone of Heartwood since the school was established in 1982. The Volunteer Network includes students, parents of students, and individuals from the community who provide a wide range of support services. Heartwood also continued its partnership with Lights On!, a Calhoun County after-school program funded by a 21st Century Learning Grant program which ends this summer. This collaboration enabled Heartwood to invite West Virginia artist Ilene Evans of “Voices From the Earth”, to return for week-long residencies in 2003 and 2004. Ms. Evans taught Heartwood dance and children’s classes, hosted storytelling and music workshops for adults and teachers and performed for elementary and middle school children. |
 Ilene Evans during a Storytelling Workshop |
Ms. Evans performed at the 2004 11th annual December Celebration. A state 21st Century Learning grant will now replace the federal after-school program. Heartwood is an active partner with Calhoun County schools in this grant. In addition, each year Heartwood continues to expand its partnership with the generous individuals who support Heartwood. Their donations provide the majority of the funding needed to continue to provide our underserved rural population with a place to learn, heal and grow through the arts |