Newman's Own Foundation Awards Grant
to Neighborhood Studios

FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION

BRIDGEPORT; JULY 15, 2010

Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County (formerly the Music and Arts Center for Humanity) is pleased to announce that it has received a grant of $10,000 from Newman’s Own Foundation in support of Ailey Camp.

 Ailey Camp is a summer day camp run in partnership with the internationally renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance theatre.  Neighborhood Studios offers this camp, tuition free, to preteen boys and girls living in Bridgeport. Campers take classes in four dance disciplines, ballet, modern, jazz and West African.  Over the course of the summer everyone learns to respect dance as a physical discipline which also  allows for creative expression.

 In addition to the dance classes, campers work with counselors on such topics as dealing with peer pressure, alternatives to violence, drug and alcohol avoidance, sexual responsibility and interpersonal relationships.  The six weeks of hard work culminates in a very special presentation of dance, poetry and one-act plays.  The celebration is scheduled for the Klein Auditorium in Bridgeport on August 11 at 7:30.

 Harold Levine, Chairman Emeritus of both Neighborhood Studios and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, through his friendship with Alvin Ailey brought Ailey Camp to Bridgeport in 1999.  Since that time, thousands of girls and boys have benefitted from the Ailey Camp mission:  to challenge campers to excel through the four “A’s” – Acceptance, Attention, Appreciation and Affection.

 Paul Newman was committed to helping make the world a better place.  To carry on his philanthropic legacy, Newman’s Own Foundation donates all net royalties and profits after taxes from the sale of Newman’s Own products to charity.  To date, Paul Newman and Newman’s Own Foundation have given over $290 million to thousands of charities around the world.  For more information, visit www.newmansownfoundation.org.  For more information about Neighborhood Studios, please visit www.musicandartscenter.org .