City of Largo, Florida

Suncoast Performing Arts Foundation, Inc.
Keeping the Arts Alive in Largo!

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TAX ID

59-2597553

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MISSION STATEMENT

The Suncoast Performing Arts Foundation, Inc. is dedicated to perpetuating and producing the performing arts to benefit the Largo Cultural Center.

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HISTORY

Suncoast Performing Arts Foundation, Inc.,(SPAF) formerly Partners N Progress for the Arts, Inc, is a community-based, non-profit 501(c)(3) foundation supporting the Largo Cultural Center. SPAF successfully works with individual and corporate donors to provide annual operating funds, equipment upgrades, program sponsorship and other amenities that provide direct benefit to the patrons of the Cultural Center. SPAF also works to increase general public awareness of the cultural and educational programs available.

SPAF was incorporated in 1985 for the purpose of benefiting the programs of Largo's Recreation and Parks Department and to promote the performing arts in the community, through volunteerism and fund raising. The foundation consists of a 20 member board and numerous dues paying general members. The board includes business leaders and community supporters dedicated to the advancement of cultural and performing arts in the greater Tampa Bay area.

In 1989, PNP took on their most ambitious fund raising undertaking ever, Largo Central Park and the Largo Cultural Center. The City of Largo had purchased land where the old Largo Fairgrounds once stood. The master plan included turning this 70 acre parcel into a central park area for special events and other activities. PNP eagerly accepted the challenge to raise funds for the park and in 1995, when the park opened, they immediately turned their focus to their next major undertaking, the Largo Cultural Center.

In 1990, Largo attorney Bruce McManus approached Mrs. Marian Tonne, who had a lifelong love of the arts. Mrs. Tonne and her husband Theodore had already left the majority of their estate to the Pinellas County Community Foundation. Mr. Tonne had worked as an accountant with National City Bus Lines in Chicago for many years, where Marian was a secretary at the same company. After taking early retirement, the couple had settled in the community of Belleair, and later moved to Belleair Bluffs, communities just west of Largo.

Mrs. Tonne with the counsel of Mr. McManus and AmSouth Bank Trust Administrator, Tom Bruckman, decided that $600,000 of the estate would be donated to the City of Largo with the specific provision that it be used within five years to begin construction of a community theater.

$600,000 was a great start, but when plans were finished for the center, it came with a price tag of $3.7 million. Keeping the project going then became the responsibility of the Department Director, Cathy Santa, with the help of new Mayor, Thom Feaster and Partners N Progress. Partners N Progress set a fund raising goal of $592,000 and Santa went about securing grants from the State's Division of Cultural Affairs.

To encourage more individual contributions, the Partners N Progress Foundation sold "star" and "chair" sponsorships which ranged from $100 to $1000. These sponsorships gave contributors permanent recognition on either one of the walls in the building or an engraved plaque on one of the theater seats.

In two years, the City's combined fund raising drive brought in a total of $1 million in state grants, with an additional $482,000 in corporate and private donations through Partners N Progress. Over 75 chair sponsorships and 300 star sponsorships were sold, and $110,000 was generated in in-kind donations of products and services.

In June 1999, the Partners N Progress Foundation joined with Angels for the Arts, a 501(c)(3) organization with the simple goal of advancing the arts in mid-Pinellas county and making them accessible to everyone. Both boards joined together under one president and the first annual fundraising drive was initiated in September 1999.

SPAF is currently aiming to complete a $360,000 endowment challenge in order to be eligible for a State of Florida Cultural Endowment Program match of $240,000.

We have come so far in such a short time. But there is still much to be done. Community support for our mission will be evident when performing art lovers like you:

• increase their financial contributions

• become SPAF members

• designate SPAF as the beneficiary in their wills

• frequently attend performances at the Largo Cultural Center

• volunteer their time and talent

Won't you become more involved with the performing arts in your community? To learn more about opportunities available visit the support page or call the office at 727-587-6751.

President- Judith F. Hall

President Elect- Kim Feaster

Past President- Danny Lehan

Recording Secretary- Kay Sherman

Corresponding Secretary- Barbara Edwards

Treasurer- Ward Johansen

Emeritus- William E. Hale, M.D

Normajeanne Anderson

Sue Bordeaux

Joe Bugeja

Betsy Byrd

Marya Flurnoy

Susan Juhl

Sue Osborne

Barbara Royston

John Toppe

• Executive Committee
• Board Development
• Budget & Finance
• Eight O'Clock Theatre
• Endowment/Investment
• Events
• Fund-raising
• Legal
• Marketing & Public Relations
• Scholarship

1983- Partners N Progress is created.

November 1985- Partners N Progress Foundation is incorporated.

June 1994- The Vice-Mayor and PNP spearhead the addition of a Military Court of Honor to honor men and women who have served their country.

May 1995- PNP committed $65,000 to build the Clock Tower in Largo Central Park

June 1999- The PNP Foundation joins with Angels for the Arts.

September 1999- First PNP annual fund-raising drive initiated

February 2005- PNP assists the Cultural Center with the purchase of a full-color LED marquee

March 2007- The inaugural Largo Central Park Artist Market is held.

September 2010- PNP changes it name to the Suncoast Performing Arts Foundation!

For your support, we are pleased to offer a number of benefits especially designed to enrich your experience.

-50% off one rental of one LCC facility

-Exclusive, personal back-stage tour for you and your guests

-Ten (10) tickets to one Children's program to be donated, in your name, to a children's charity of your choice.

-Recognition on the Cultural Center's electronic marquee (if requested)

-All benefits listed below

Choreographer's Level: $1000-$2499

-25% off one (1) rental of Center's facilities

-All benefits listed below

Encore Level: $500-$999

-Invitation to Annual President's Award Banquet

-All benefits listed below

Standing Ovation Level: $250-$499

-Opportunity to purchase tickets to LCC produced events before they go on sale to the public, notification will go out via e-mail

-All benefits listed below

Show Stopper Level: $100-$249

-Invitations to Members-only events

-All benefits listed below

Bravo Level: $50-$99

-Annual Membership Card

-Priority notification of Cultural Center performances and events via e-mail

-Ticket exchange privileges

-Donor recognition in the Largo Cultural Center lobby

See how you can support the work of the Suncoast Performing Arts Foundation.