The Fine Arts Booster Group (FABG) works in partnership with the Ithaca City School District to advocate, support and celebrate all the arts for all the kids.

Photo: Lauren Comly

The Fine Arts Boosters support district programs and staff, and advocate for increased student access, participation, and equity in the arts programs. Formed in 2001 as an affiliate of the Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI), the boosters believe the arts – music, dance and visual, literary and theater arts – are a central part of every child’s public school education. IPEI is a community-based, not-for-profit organization that works to develop supportive community and private sector relationships with the Ithaca City School District.

Ongoing FABG initiatives include production of performance booklets for all concerts and theatrical productions in the middle and high schools; fundraising; Play It Again, Ithaca, the collection of used musical instruments and monies to purchase new instruments for use in the schools; and various advocacy efforts in support of arts in the schools.

To date, Fine Arts Boosters Group has funded 230 grants and arts-related programs representing more than $85,000 in local projects that supplement the arts in the Ithaca City School District. In addition, we have placed 118 recycled musical instruments directly into the hands of local young musicians in our schools.

FABG is open to all public education staff, parents, students and community members.

Major Actions

• Continuing advocacy and information through passion, presence and people
• Joined with Sports Boosters and LACS Community to support Facilities Bond
• Major Public Art Project - Watershed Wall in downtown Ithaca’s Butterfly Alley
• Fundraising and Friendraising
• Musical instrument support
• Community connections as opportunities arise—Wynton Marsalis visit in 2010

Quick Facts

• Established in 2001
• Live under the non-profit umbrella of IPEI (Ithaca Public Education Initiative) as an affiliate
• Serve all the arts and all schools in the Ithaca City School District
• All volunteer
• Over $135,000 funds raised to date. $85,000 directly funds Teacher Mini-grants.
• 118 Musical instruments recycled to date
• 229 Listserv members. Join the listserv by emailing FineArtsBoosters-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to stay informed about what is happening with the fine and performing arts in the Ithaca City School District.

Check the attachments below for our current goals and year end reports.

History
In May 2000, FABG was sparked by Michael Allen, then Cayuga Heights Elementary Band teacher, now Boynton Middle School band director, and Holly Kazarinoff, TST BOCES Enrichment Coordinator. Starting with a desire to improve the condition of the elementary school’s musical instrument inventory, Mr. Allen perceived the need for a music booster group in the community. Dr. Judith Pastel, Superintendent of Schools for the Ithaca City School District, supported the formation of a booster group that included all of the arts.

Meetings were held to determine the group’s structure, draft bylaws, and form the first board. Patti Nozell served as the first president, and IPEI offered to partner with the group to lend its not-for-profit status and administrative structure to the group’s activities. Deborah O’Connor, then IPEI treasurer, served as the first FABG treasurer.

Links below to organizations we admire:

Hangar Theatre, Kitchen Theater, State Theater, Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, Community Arts Partnership,
Community School of Music and Arts, Running to Places, Village at Ithaca, Greater Ithaca Activities Center,
Southside Community Center, Americans for the Arts

10 Stories for 10 Years - Boosters are 10 Years Old!

Story #1: Our wonderful affiliation with IPEI, making the beginning possible

IPEI: Fifteen & Forward

In 1995, a task force of community members committed to maintaining the excellence of Ithaca’s schools began meeting in response to a challenge set forth in the ICSD Strategic Plan of 1994. It called for a vehicle that could facilitate access to the community resources needed to ensure the success of all students in the district, and resulted in the birth of the Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI). IPEI was incorporated as a non-profit entity with 501(c)(3) status, and its all-volunteer board of directors met for the first time in 1996.

From the beginning, IPEI was and remains dedicated to creating avenues for community involvement in public education, enabling and rewarding excellence in teaching, and helping to develop exciting educational projects that cannot be funded through tax dollars alone. This was manifested first and foremost in IPEI’s Teacher Grants: a program that awards grants (now in amounts up to $1,500) to individual teachers to fund innovative projects that must include the involvement of a community partner. Over the years, IPEI added a number of other grant programs including Red & Gold Grants, which provide up to $500 to support projects developed by teachers, staff members, students, families, or community members; and Community Collaboration Grants awarded to non-profit community organizations wishing to initiate curricular-enhancing programs with the ICSD.

To date, IPEI has awarded more than 1,000 grants totaling over $1,000,000—an astonishing record of success and a testament not just to the dedication and commitment of the many volunteers who serve on its board, serve on its various committees, help to organize its annual Adult Spelling Bee fundraising event, and contribute in many ways both tangible and intangible. It is also a testament to the commitment of the entire Ithaca community to educational excellence, because every penny of the $1,000,000 came from the community. IPEI’s accomplishments are something in which all of us can take pride.

IPEI’s commitment to education has extended to fostering affiliates, such as with the Fine Arts Booster Group and Code Red Robotics.

Fine Arts Booster Group (FABG) Affiliates with IPEI In 2000 Michael Allen, who was then Cayuga Heights Elementary Band teacher and is now middle school band teacher, noted a need for a music booster group due to the terrible state of the instrument inventory. ICSD Superintendent Dr. Judith Pastel supported the formation of a booster group including all the arts. Aided by Randy Ehrenberg, Assistant Superintendent; Holly Kazarinoff, TST BOCES Enrichment Coordinator; and volunteer facilitator Elayne Nicholas; an ad hoc group of parents, teachers and community members met to determine a group structure, draw up bylaws and form a first board. After a six-month discussion, the inaugural board led by first president Patti Nozell was anxious to begin organizing support for the arts. IPEI agreed to act as the non-profit umbrella for this new group, and work together in an affiliate relationship. The school year 2001-2002 marked the first year of operation for the Fine Arts Booster Group (FABG) and culminated in a fundraiser called Festival of Talents, a student, teacher and community member variety show at the State Theater and an art exhibit at Autumn Leaves Bookstore, featuring teachers’ art work.

“We are all better together.” states past booster president Martha Frommelt. “Working with IPEI’s board and learning from their experiences has made the booster group stronger. In turn, the boosters have been able to bring focused community connection to the arts.”

Now approaching year ten, the Fine Arts Booster Group celebrates its affiliate relationship with IPEI, as well as specific support for the arts. Tina Mollenkamp, current booster president, says, “”I am inspired by the work IPEI is doing for the community as well as their continuous work to improve our organization. I know this partnership will maintain IPEI and FABG as strong supporters of ICSD as we go forward.”

FABG Anniversary: Ten Stories for Ten Years 2012