PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Kimmel Cultural Campus’ annual black-tie gala is expected to be a star-studded event, complete with a red carpet, a cocktail reception, a sit-down dinner and a performance from 10-time Grammy winner and R&B recording artist Chaka Khan.
The June 8 event intends to raise funds to support free education and community programming, ensuring that all Philadelphians have access to the arts.
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Leslie Patterson Tyler, Kimmel senior director of media relations and communications, said the funds raised will continue to support their education expansion plan.
“We have a five-year strategic planning goal of reaching 100,000 kids annually. It’s a lofty goal, but I believe with everyone’s help and support of things like this gala, we will be able to reach our goal,” she said.
This year, Brook Lenfest, board member of The Philadelphia Orchestra and the Kimmel Center, will be honored with the Center Stage Award.
“You cannot deny Brook’s impact in the community as it pertains to education and children,” she said. “He’s a business leader, he’s a real estate investor, he’s a developer, he keeps children top of mind. He’s a huge supporter of cultural institutions.”
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Giving children access to the arts, where they otherwise would not have it, is key, Patterson Tyler noted.
“I value whenever we can open these opportunities to children in Philadelphia who may or may not have arts and music classes in school because of budget cuts or whatnot,” she said. “All of our arts education programming is free for children in the Philadelphia School District as well as the Archdiocese. We target Title 1 schools with our free education programming, and it’s in the school, on our campus and also in local community centers.”
Some of the programs focus on jazz, musical theater and technology.
“What we’re doing with arts education is we’re transforming lives. I truly believe this,” Patterson Tyler added. “I’ve seen it happen. It happened with my children — they participated in Kimmel’s free arts education programming.”
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