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Foundation Statements:
The Frazier Fund's Statement of Support
Throughout its history, The Frazier Fund has supported endeavors enhancing the quality of life
for the citizens of Marquette and preserving and strengthening the sense of community and history
associated with this City. We have always considered the Graveraet School and Kaufman Auditorium to
be important parts of that history and community spirit.
We hope that the Graveraet building can continue to play an important role in the education of
Marquette youth. If economic factors dictate otherwise, however, we urge the continued preservation of
Kaufman Auditorium as a vital community and cultural asset for future generations.
The L.G. Kaufman Endowment Fund Statement of Support
For more than seventy-five years, the L.G. Kaufman Endowment Fund's mission
has been to support community activities and educational endeavors that benefit
Marquette area children. Since its establishment, the Foundation's special relationship
with the Marquette Area Public Schools has been an essential part of
that effort as reflected by the annual Kaufman Awards, the Lyceum Series, program
and equipment grants, upgrades to Graveraet's Kaufman Auditorium and
many other worthwhile enterprises.
In light of current economic challenges facing the Marquette school district and
the need to develop creative solutions to address them, the Foundation urges
that every consideration be given to the long-term use and preservation of Graveraet
and Kaufman Auditorium as historic treasures that will continue to benefit
our community for years to come. In this regard, we would hope that additional
consideration be given to maintaining classes in their present Graveraet location
or an alternative realignment which would effectively utilize this facility. Nevertheless
our Foundation remains available to explore and support alternatives which
would ensure preservation of Graveraet and the Auditorium as a significant
community asset.
To this end, the Kaufman Foundation will continue to fulfill its longstanding commitment
and support for Marquette's children and the community in which they
live.
The Shiras Institute Statement of Support
On September 20, 1937, George Shiras III and his wife Frances created the Shiras Institute trust as a gift to the city of Marquette and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. In accordance with this original indenture, the Shiras Institute has operated “For the benefit of the public in the fields of beautification, recreation, and cultural activities . . . in the broadest and most liberal manner.” On numerous occasions over the years we have partnered with Marquette schools to fund corollary projects designed to serve and shape area youth.
With the current economic struggles in the state, the use of some school buildings in the Marquette School District is under necessary review. In keeping with our mission statement, we are writing in support of the preservation and utilization of the Graveraet School and Kaufman Auditorium as a valuable venue for many local recreational and cultural events. In addition to its present functional elements, the Graveraet School has historical significance to preserve as well.
As stewards of the vision of our community benefactors, it is imperative we identify an opportunity to keep both the school and building open and viable for public use. We encourage a proactive approach to preserve Graveraet School and the Kaufman Auditorium so it can continue to serve the recreational and cultural needs of our community.
Respectfully,
Joe Sullivan, President
The Shiras Institute
MAPS Parents Statement
On Oct. 15, 2009 the MAPS Grade Realignment committee recommended the “partial closure” of Graveraet Intermediate School and movement of all 5th grade students to Bothwell Middle School. This recommendation would remove the 5th grade students, but keep Graveraet “partially open” for other, as yet unstated, purposes.
The Grade Realignment committee was told that our district's currently owned buildings do not have the space for a K-5, neighborhood school configuration.
Concerned parents with the MAPS district have worked diligently to provide a plan that both preserves Graveraet as a school and keeps our 5th grade students out of the middle school environment. In addition, the K-5 configuration provides the cost benefit of full closure of one elementary building. Please visit www.MAPSparents.com to learn more about this option, which shows our district can support a K-5 configuration using Graveraet and 2 other elementary buildings.
Marquette Symphony Orchestra's Statement of Support
The Marquette Symphony Orchestra is the voice of symphonic music in the central Upper Peninsula. The MSO is a private, non-profit arts based organization featuring four concerts annually held at the Kaufman Auditorium. Partnerships with Northern Michigan University and Marquette Area Public Schools have helped to engage youth in orchestral musical performance as well as study and intellectual development. The Orchestra’s mission is to present symphonic musical performances of the highest artistic merit for students, adults, and children of the central Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and surrounding areas, and provide opportunities to individuals for cultural, and intellectual enrichment and growth.
Without Kaufman Auditorium our Symphony could not continue to offer
symphonic musical programming with the acoustical and seating capacity
which the Auditorium offers. Closing Graveraet would certainly result in a
terrible loss to the entire community of the central Upper Peninsula and beyond.
The Symphony greatly appreciates your past support. We are celebrating our 13th year of providing symphonic concerts in Upper Michigan. The Symphony offers a unique series of programs that are typically found only in major metropolitan areas. We received grants from the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Activities, the National Endowment for the Arts, Marquette General Health Systems, Northern Michigan University, Superior Medi Spa, Hetrick Associates, Cleveland Cliffs, Bell Hospital Superior Health System, U P Cardiology Associates, The Shiras Institute, The Marquette Community Foundation, Mrs. Phyllis Reynolds, The Puffin Foundation, and other organizations and community leaders. These are very competitive grants, and underscore the professionalism and high artistic quality of our offerings. However, State support will be virtually non-existent for this 2009-2010 fiscal year, and we need to make up this and other revenue deficits in order to operate in any meaningful way.
We realize that the long term viability of the Symphony is dependent on how good a job we do to inspire and develop young audiences, and fulfill expectations of adult audiences. With this in mind, we have active programs to reach the youth of the central Upper Peninsula and beyond. For example, our April 2009 Concert featured Ashley Fure’s Lake Superior, a MSO commissioned work made its world debut in Marquette. Ashley Fure is a young, Marquette native, and currently a Teaching Fellow at Harvard University.
As you can see, the MSO greatly supports not only the adults, but also the youth among us, because the youth determine the future of our community. Closing Graveraet would be a terrible blow to the adults’ and to youth’s intellectual and artistic enrichment. MSO would like to assist the Marquette Area Public Schools, the Kaufman Foundation, and other concerned organizations and area leaders to no only help us continue our programming, but to find the means to retain the usefulness of both Graveraet as well as Kaufman Auditorium well into the future.
The MSO ‘s (2009-2010 Season) November’s Concert will feature Hyejin Kim, a young, internationally prominent pianist.
Our February Concert will feature our MSO Youth Soloist Competition where there will be a young soloist from Michigan or Wisconsin chosen to perform. In addition, there will also be at least six workshops and ensemble performances in the local schools, and Northern Michigan University presented by the MSO. We also actively solicit donors to purchase blocks of tickets to sponsor entire classrooms of students. Our current Orchestra is composed of at least 20 youth interns both from NMU, and Marquette Senior High School. As you see, we do take youth development very seriously, as we know that the youth of today will determine our future.
We have significantly reduced our debt and are nearing a balanced budget even in these challenging economic times. In fact, three of four concerts in this past year’s series have been sponsored by local individuals or corporations. Hardworking Board members contribute hundreds of unpaid professional hours to the MSO. Consequently, our administrative costs are less than 3% of our total budget. Fully 60% of the budget is through ticket sales and donations. We continue to seek improvement through sound financial planning, program innovation, dissemination, and evaluation. Our offerings contribute to the economy and vitality of our community. Young people, adults, students, and other community residents are enriched and inspired by them. The MSO is one of the many reasons why some individuals may choose to relocate in our area.
As you can see, the MSO greatly supports not only the adults, but also the youth among us, because the youth determine the future of our community. Closing Graveraet would be a terrible blow to the adults’ and to youth’s intellectual and artistic enrichment. MSO would like to assist the Marquette Area Public Schools, the Kaufman Foundation, and other concerned organizations and area leaders to no only help us continue our programming, but to find the means to retain the usefulness of both Graveraet as well as Kaufman Auditorium well into the future.
With Best Regards
Tom Cappuccio, President
Marquette Symphony Orchestra Marquette Symphony Orchestra
(906) 228-9226
tom@cappuccio.org
Other Foundations and Organizations are encouraged to add to this segment under the Comment/Stories page.
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