UPAF Bright Minds and Notable Women

By Susie Robinson

As one of United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF)’s six Cornerstone Member groups, First Stage receives annual support to help fulfill our mission of transforming lives through theater.

As stated in our Theater Academy cheer (“I can’t is not in my vocabulary. I take risks. I conquer my fears. I am not afraid to lead!”), the support First Stage receives from UPAF allows us to do as we teach—to confidently lead in the national Theater for Young Audiences arena and to take artistic risks in order to fulfill our mission. UPAF’s non-restricted funding allows us to balance producing exceptional theater while maintaining financial stability—giving us the freedom to champion new work and to connect more deeply with our community through innovative and enriching community engagement efforts related to our productions.

UPAF is a nonprofit, umbrella organization that supports 14 Member Group performing arts organizations and numerous Affiliate Groups in Southeastern Wisconsin through its annual fundraising campaign. With their mission to “Secure community resources, promote the performing arts as a regional asset, and improve the quality of life through responsible investment in and financial support of the arts in Southeastern Wisconsin,” UPAF raised $12,073,795 through their 2018 Campaign. See their 2018 Annual Report here.

Also in 2018, UPAF Bright Minds, sponsored by BMO Harris Bank and largely funded through UPAF Notable Women, hit an all-time high by awarding 11 UPAF Member Groups with a total of $673,500, an increase of $73,500 over 2017, for arts education programming. First Stage was among those groups to receive UPAF Bright Minds support, and in 2018, we were honored to receive the Bright Minds Award—which recognized our excellence in arts education.

UPAF Notable Women, sponsored by BMO Harris Bank, is an Affinity Program designed to help fulfill the critical need for arts education to support our next generation in reaching its full potential. Members are committed to ensuring that all our region’s children have access to high quality arts education and do so through the UPAF Bright Minds grant program. Women join UPAF Notable Women by making a new or increased donation of $1,000 to UPAF. Men may also show their support by contributing on behalf of a notable woman in their lives.

First Stage is grateful to the 470 Notable Women and BMO Harris Bank who made UPAF Bright Minds support possible for our Theater Academy students this year. The critical support that we receive through this grant program enables us to never turn away a student from our classes due to their family’s inability to pay. Each year, First Stage provides more than 600 need-based scholarships and transportation assistance to nearly 400 young people to participate in the Theater Academy.