Phyllis Slattery Visionary Fund
Bristol Riverside Theatre Education Director Phyllis Slattery was a visionary. When she looked in the eyes of a young person, any young person, she saw a bright future. She was enamored of the possibilities of youth, the promise of a life not yet lived. Phyllis never gave up on a child, and so, in the summer of 2001, she created ArtRageous, a free summer camp.She selected teaching artists and crafted the camp using their strengths to teach life skills. ArtRageous is about self confidence. Through dance, acting, writing, and more, students learn how to plumb the depths of their own emotions, express their own challenges, and take pride in their unique experience as they stand tall, face a crowd, and speak up.
In the winter of 2012 Phyllis passed away after a short illness. But her legacy continues. We are confident that she is watching over her ArtRageous students. In the summer of 2013, our first summer without ‘Miss Phyllis’, BRT had an unprecedented 130 students in ArtRageous and over 80 in the new ArtRageous Jr. BRT is proud to continue her legacy of respect and possibility for every young person.
Since Phyllis’s passing there have been discussions from many sides about the best way to honor her. But unfortunately, the conversation changed from honoring her work, to simply saving it. The funding that allowed ArtRageous to increase its enrollment from 30 to 45 to 80 and finally to 130 students was not renewed. All told, BRT lost 100 scholarships.
Help us continue her legacy by donating to the Phyllis Slattery Visionary Fund.
With generous support from The Grundy Foundation, we have been offered a $25,000 matching grant if funds are successfully secured. We are only $4,000 away from reaching this years funding goal and receiving that match! Any additional funds raised will go toward funding next years camp in which an additional $20,000 still needs to be raised.
To make a tax-deductable donation and change the life of a child, donate here,
contact our Development office at (215) 785-6664 or send a check to:
BRT, C/O The Phyllis Slattery Fund, 120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol PA 19007
