Donor Stories
Lumpkin Family Foundation
The Lumpkin Family Foundation Awards Grants through the Community Foundation
The Lumpkin Family Foundation (www.lumpkinfoundation.org) supports people pursuing innovation and long-lasting improvements in the environment, health, education and community access to the arts. The Foundation is based in rural central Illinois and funds many nonprofits in that area; however, family members serve on a regional grantmaking committee to provide grants to communities where Lumpkin family members live or are personally involved. The Sparks-Lumpkin family and their children have been long-time residents of the Albuquerque area.
In 2009, the Regional Grants Committee began giving a Focus Grant, designating half of the Program budget to a single community.
Albuquerque was chosen to be the first! The Committee partnered with the Albuquerque Community Foundation to get insights about the local nonprofit landscape as well as find organizations in the greater Albuquerque area that fit within their purview. “Engaging with the Community Foundation provided us with a broad understanding of the New Mexico nonprofit sector and really connected the entire family. It was very valuable in creating a common bond among family members,” shared John Sparks, Chair of the Regional Grants Committee and lifelong Albuquerque resident.
“Because we award grants in six fields-of-interest, the Community Foundation is in the unique position of knowing the social profit landscape better than anyone. We are always happy to share our insight and enjoyed working with The Lumpkin Family Foundation,” states Randy Royster, Executive Director of the Community Foundation. “I was especially honored to be invited to the family dinner to celebrate the grants they are making in Albuquerque and to get to know the local family and a number of the out-of-state family on a more personal basis”.
After narrowing it down to two organizations and completing site visits with young and old family members alike, The Lumpkin Family Foundation chose to support the following:
Art in the School (will have photos of AIS to accompany piece)
Putting Art Back in the School for Albuquerque’s Children
Art in the School was established in 1985 when art had been completely eliminated from Albuquerque Public Schools. Despite improvements, opportunities for art are still extremely limited. Art in the School provides three programs to help improve art education:
- Volunteer Program - Training workshops prepare parent volunteers to teach art in their children’s classrooms. During the 2008-09 school year, 75 volunteers from 14 schools taught 5,000 children.
- After School Art Program for Title 1 (high poverty) Elementary Schools - UNM Art Education graduate and UNM College of Fine Arts P.L.A.C.E. students teach a specific curriculum at two schools, reaching 200 children.
- Professional Development Workshops for Teachers - Art educators instruct teachers how to integrate art across the curriculum.
The Lumpkin Family Foundation grant was used to support and expand these programs while founding a unique new plan for at-risk middle school children, also taught by UNM students.
The Lumpkin Family Foundation has designated Art in the School for another grant in 2010 if they are successful in raising additional funds from new donors. For more information, visit www.artintheschool.org or call Beth Larsen, Executive Director, at 505.306.0471.
Escuela del Sol Montessori/The Harwood Arts Center
Ensuring the Future of Arts
Escuela del Sol is an independent, pre-primary and elementary school that started Harwood Art Center to create a connection between the school and the community through arts programming, educational opportunities and service.
The Ensuring the Future of Arts project will prepare young people with skills, confidence and knowledge of the visual arts or poetry to succeed in achieving their goals of pursuing the arts educationally and professionally; mentoring will be offered by master artists, poets and the arts community. The two programs supported through this grant are:
- The Teen Drawing Intensive - offers students hands-on studio opportunities with master artist Leo Neufeld, recreating masterworks, working from casts and then live models. Students refine techniques by creating portfolio drawings. Selected works are exhibited at Harwood.
- Poetry Mentorship Program - a year-long endeavor in which youth meet twice a month with a variety of poets. Sessions include poetry fundamentals, performing poetry and polishing work. Students gain insight, confidence and support through relationships with working poets.
For more information, visit www.harwoodartcenter.org or call Stephanie Gonzales, Director, at 505.242.6367.
