Founded in 2002 through the generosity of Ani DiFranco, the Arts Academy Foundation is a charitable organization managed by the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo. Ani performed a benefit concert at Shea's Performing Arts Centre with the expressed purpose of supporting arts education in the Buffalo Public Schools. Half of those proceeds went specifically to the Academy for Visual and Performing Arts (Arts Academy Foundation), her Alma Mater. The other half of the proceeds were dedicated to a foundation begun to support arts education district-wide. The school was able to purchase some orchestra instruments, fund a partnership with MuddPies Children's Museum, begin a major character education project, and bring the concertmaster of the Buffalo Philharmonic, Michael Ludwig, to our school in order to give master classes to our students.

Since that time, we have had fundraisers organized by our teachers, students, and staff, such as walk-a-thons held by our elementary students. We are now looking to much more serious and greater development.

We would like to acknowledge and thank other previous donors who have given substantial amounts or materials to the foundation for our students. Most recently, Mrs. Ida Christie donated a grand piano for our new concert hall through the Arts Academy Foundation. Last year, former Mayor Anthony Masiello sent 100% of our students to the Buffalo Philharmonic through his generous donation.

Your continued support of the Arts Academy Foundation is vital in order for our present and future students to explore and be educated in the arts, academics, and as future leaders. For further information on supporting our foundation, please call the school at 816-4220 or the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo (www.cfgb.org) at 852-2857.