• City and State funding continue to experience budget cuts this year. Often the first thing to go is any arts programming or field trips.
• Research has confirmed for us that children who participate in the arts develop improved literacy skills, increased problem solving abilities and are generally more engaged in their own education.
• But 1/3 of Illinois children receive no arts instruction in schools.
• Emerald City Theatre is Chicago’s largest Gateway to the Arts for young children serving over 50,000 children – 10,000 of whom qualify as low income. But the number of low income children in the CPS system is 250,000. We have a long way to go.

Thank you for your support at OZ Ball as we work to raise $80,000 enabling our Gateway Outreach programs to reach over 20,000 low-income Chicago Public School students.