Springfield Free Public Library Awarded HEART Grant

SPRINGFIELD, NJ — The Springfield Free Public Library was among the 58 artists, historians and non-profit organizationto receive funding through the 2016 Union County HEART grant program.

The HEART (History, Education, Arts Reaching Thousands) grant program recognizes the importance of culture and the arts for economic development and quality of life. It was established by the Union County Freeholder Board in 1998 to support programming that connects Union County residents with innovative projects related to history, the arts and humanities.

To obtain information on the next round of HEART funding, artists, educators, civic and historical non-profit organizations can contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs by phone at 908-558-2550 (NJ Relay users dial 711) or email culturalinfo@ucnj.org. The office is located at 633 Pearl Street in Elizabeth.

Full list of Union County HEART Grants Awarded 2016:

• Brian Beste, Fanwood, $1,000, presenting art and photography workshops;
• Candace Waller, Fanwood, $900, providing free dance classes;
• Danielle Linares Hale, Fanwood, $1,000, presenting a community arts festival;
• Evelyn Elizabeth Tucker, Plainfield, $850, presenting a Black History Month classical music performance;
• Jillian Redeker, Union, $800, providing handmade hats etc. to chemo patients and babies;
• Lesl Harker, New Providence, $1,000, presenting Irish music workshop and concert;
• Lowell Schantz, Westfield, $1,000, presenting two free jazz concerts in Union County libraries;
• Melinda Allen-Grote, Plainfield, $1,000, producing audio archive of Cuban 59er stories;
• Olivia Mendes, Scotch Plains, $1,000 producing a history tour book for children;
• Valerie Graham, Roselle, $1,000, presenting free crafts workshops for children and seniors;
• American Theater Group, Rahway, $2,500, presenting new play readings at Hamilton Stage in Rahway;
• Arts Guild New Jersey, Rahway, $2,500, presenting arts education for children and adults;
• Borough of Fanwood, Fanwood, $2,500, presenting a Fanwood Cultural Arts Performance Series;
• Borough of Roselle Park, Casano Community Center, $1,000, presenting a free concert;
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Union County, Union, $1,500, providing visual arts classes to children;
• Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company, Union, $2,000, presenting a performance with UCAPA at the Vo-Tech black box theater;
• CASA of Union County, Elizabeth, $2,500, presenting arts workshops for child advocates;
• Clark Board of Education, Clark, $900, providing digitized record of school yearbooks;
• Cranford Historical Society, Cranford, $1,000, exhibiting historic original newspaper articles and related historic items;
• Cranford Housing Board, Cranford, $1,000, presenting “Three Po' Tenors” in concert for senior residents;
• Dreamcatchers Repertory Theatre, Summit, $1,700, presenting NJ premiere of "Shipwrecked, An Entertainment";
• Elizabeth Avenue Partnership, Elizabeth, $1,500, presenting Hispanic Heritage Month concerts;
• Groundwork Elizabeth, Inc., Elizabeth, $2,300, presenting 14th Annual Tour de Elizabeth bicycle tour;
• Hillcrest Academy North, Scotch Plains, $2,200, providing interactive music programs to students;
• Hillside Victory Community Garden Club, $2,200, presenting HarvestFest 2016;
• Historical Society of Elizabeth NJ, $1,000, presenting historic song performance;
• Historical Society of Plainfield, Plainfield, $2,500, providing history archive inventory program;
• Institute of Music for Children, Elizabeth, $2,500, providing arts and culture classes to young children;
• Jardine Academy, Cranford, $2,000, providing art therapy classes for children with cerebral palsy;
• Josephine’s Place, Elizabeth, $2,500, presenting arts programs for immigrant women;
• Kenilworth Historical Society, Kenilworth, $1,000, presenting history exhibition for Four Centuries in a Weekend;
• Language & Enrichment Center INC, Scotch Plains, $1,200, presenting performances by preschool children of Italian winter songs;
• Life Drawing Studio Group, Fanwood, $2,000, providing visual arts workshops;
• Music for All Seasons, Scotch Plains, $2,500, presenting music programs for U.C. Juvenile Detention Center;
• National Council of Jewish Women, U.C. Section, Elizabeth, $2,500, providing two intergenerational programs: a big band swing dance and a jazz band;
• New Jersey Festival Orchestra, Westfield, $1,700, presenting live concert “Home for the Holidays”;
• New Jersey Intergenerational Orchestra, Berkeley Heights, $2,500, presenting a community concert;
• New Jersey Workshop for the Arts, Westfield, $1,500, presenting event for special needs children;
• Old First Historic Trust, Elizabeth, $1,700, providing presentations/workshops on historic cemeteries;
• Overlook Hospital Foundation, Summit, $2,500, presenting "Expressions" healing arts program;
• Premiere Stages at Kean University, Union, $2,300, presenting the play “My Lord, What a Night”;
• Reeves-Reed Arboretum, Summit, $2,000, presenting concert with jazz vocalist Cyrille Aimee;
• Restore Ministries, Inc., Elizabeth, $2,500, providing classes for youth to create video about local history;
• Roselle 24/7, Roselle, $500, providing a community-based arts festival;
• SAGE Eldercare, Inc., Summit, $2,200, presenting free musical performances to older adults;
• Saint Theresa School, Kenilworth, $1,800, providing two student theatrical productions;
• Second Westfield Senior Citizens Housing, Westfield, $750, presenting a musical history talk and performance;
• Someone’s Daughter, Elizabeth, $2,000, providing a visual art and dance summit;
• Springfield Free Public Library, Springfield, $2,000, producing two museum exhibits;
• Temple Beth O’r/Beth Torah, Clark, $1,500, presenting a free Jewish humor program;
• The Gateway Family YMCA, Elizabeth, $2,500, providing art workshops for Cerebral Palsy League;
• The Theater Project, Union, $2,000, presenting theatrical performances in Union;
• Union Township Community Action Organization, Inc., Union $2,500, presenting Senior Choral performances in nursing homes;
• Union Township Historical Society, Union, $1,000, presenting history programs for students;
• United Youth of NJ, Elizabeth, $2,500, presenting a play about Black Wall Street;
• Visual Arts Center of NJ, Summit $2,500, presenting a visual arts program for older adults;
• Westfield Neighborhood Council, Westfield, $1,000, presenting dance workshops;
• YM-YWHA of Union County, Union, $2,000, presenting the “Y Sunday Brunch Series”.

(Photo via: Carolyn Dorfman Dance: “Interior Designs,” a work choreographed by 2016 HEART grant recipient Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company.)

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