Honor a Teacher's Giving Spirit.

Today is the last day of the 2015 Arts Council Campaign, so it's a hard day at the office. We are getting closer to our goal, but I'm worried. I saw so many wonderful artists and arts organizations speak passionately about the projects that they want to share with the community. The panel of community members who select the grants had their work cut out for them; they had to choose what projects would be funded. So many times I heard, "If only we could fund more projects, or fund the ones we have chosen fully..." Yes, if only.

There are 360,000 people in Forsyth County. At this writing, we have 4,165 individuals who have helped us reach 95% of our campaign goal.

Do you know what the truly amazing thing is?

TEACHERS make up 31% of the individuals who have given to The Arts Council. TEACHERS!

Teachers get it. Their salaries were frozen for six years, yet they faithfully give to the arts every year. They give to their students, they give to their community, and they give to the arts. They see the arts as a way to teach, a way to enrich teaching, a way to entertain and inspire creativity. I taught elementary school for 5 years in WSFCS. The generosity of the teachers, administrators, and staff is simply inspirational.

So, on our last day, in honor and support of the incredible giving nature of teachers and school employees, I challenge you to make a donation to The Arts Council in a teacher's name. When you click on one of links below and make a donation, under "General Information" you can write in the comment section the name of a teacher, administrator, school counselor, staff member that you would like to honor with your donation. If they are still working in the school system, we will let him/her know about your donation.

Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools

Summit School

Arts Based School

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem State University

Forsyth Technical Community College

Other School

I am so thankful to all of the individuals and businesses who have faithfully given their support, and I'm excited to have so many new members of the community who have learned more about the Arts Council this year. The grants that we will award next month are amazing, and the organizations we support are exceptional.

If we had more, we could give more. If only...