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West Palm Beach, Fla. – The Center for Creative Education (CCE)
has much to celebrate in 2012 and thanks to a gift from some
its dearest friends, is poised for more great things in
2013. The child-focused nonprofit received a $100,000 gift
from Palm Beach residents Kenn Karakul and James Held,
longtime supporters of CCE. According to Bob Hamon, CCE CEO,
the significant end-of-year gift comes with a challenge to
the community.
“Kenn and Jim have not only taken a financial interest in
CCE’s success for more than 10 years,” said Hamon, “they
have opened their homes to host our annual luncheons and
rallied support from their friends and colleagues for our
capital campaign. Their past support of CCE has inspired
other substantial gifts and they hope this generous
end-of-year donation to CCE’s general operations budget will
do the same.”
Karakul led the organization as board
chairman from 2001 to 2010. Karakul and Held’s initial
capital campaign gift to the organization secured CCE’s
current building project. Karakul will also serve as
honorary chairman for the organization’s beloved annual
luncheon on March 6, 2013.
"As arts organizations across the country, and especially
right here at home, continue to wrestle with cuts in grants
and a decline in underwriting, it's more important than ever
that we take a sustainable, responsible and business-focused
approach to our future," said Karakul. “CCE is well
positioned for exciting growth and our school and
after-school programming is more critical than ever. Jim and
I hope our gift will inspire others to invest in our
children’s future at CCE.”
The not-for-profit Center for Creative Education is entering
its 17th year providing Palm Beach County youth with arts
integration in school and after-school settings. It works to
enliven education by using the arts to teach students
English, Math and Science and other core subjects as well as
reinforce life skills like cooperation and compromise. CCE
served 12,500 children during 2012 in nearly 90 schools and
after-school sites.
Research has shown that multi-dimensional learning improves
each child’s academic performance, enhances their creative
problem solving, increases overall enthusiasm about school,
and shapes more productive, responsible community members.
“This year-end gift from Kenn and Jim sets the tone for 2013
as an exciting time for CCE,” said Pam Miller, chairman of
the CCE board of directors. “We are so grateful for their
generosity -- giving of their personal time, talents and
critical funding to this organization. These dollars are
earmarked to hire new staff, among other things, things,
which will allow us to continue to grow our work to serve
our community.”
For more information about the Center for Creative Education
(CCE) or to make a year-end donation, please call (561)
805-9927 or visit
www.cceflorida.org .
ABOUT THE CENTER FOR CREATIVE EDUCATION
The Center for Creative Education uses the arts to enrich
under-served students’ educational experiences. Various art
forms, from visual to performing arts, are infused into
classroom curriculum and after-school settings to enhance
the teaching of traditional academic subjects. Palm Beach
County programming is focused on Title 1 schools and
after-school settings approved by PrimeTime. Lauded by
grantors, parents, students, teachers and administrators,
CCE staff includes more than 50 teaching artists who go
through extensive training.
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