Grant will fund school programming and general operations

(RED BANK – JANUARY 10) – The Count Basie Center for the Arts has received a grant in the amount of $10,000 from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. The donation, made through The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, will be used to fund general operations, as well as the Basie Center’s Curtains Up For Kids school show program.

“This grant from Horizon will enable the Basie Center to continue our important work in providing educational programming for schools,” said Adam Philipson, President and CEO, Count Basie Center for the Arts. “Our school shows provide a live performance to students who may otherwise never experience the magic and fulfillment of the performing arts, as well as pre- and post-show visits from our teaching artists to help stich the programs’ topics into classroom curriculums.”

“Horizon is pleased to support the important work being done by the Count Basie Center for the Arts,” said Jonathan R. Pearson, Executive Director of The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey. “The Basie Center’s work aligns with Horizon’s commitment to helping our members access the resources they need to manage their health. We are improving the health of the communities we serve by helping students experience and benefit from the arts. The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey works across New Jersey with grantees who share our commitment to improving the health and communities we serve.”

The Count Basie Center’s upcoming schedule of school performances and information on financial assistance for qualifying schools can be found here.

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ABOUT THE HORIZON FOUNDATION FOR NEW JERSEY

The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey is the philanthropic arm of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. Its mission is to make New Jersey healthier by supporting non-profit organizations that expand access to health care, remove barriers to good health and increase opportunities for everyone to live the healthiest life possible, no matter who they are or where they live. Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information please visit HZNFoundation.org.

ABOUT THE COUNT BASIE CENTER FOR THE ARTS

The Count Basie Center for the Arts is New Jersey’s premier center for the cultural arts, dedicated to fostering powerful, inclusive artistic experiences and creative exchange of ideas. The Basie mission is to Inspire, Educate and Entertain through its distinct and engaging cultural and artistic offerings that embrace and amplify the diversity of the region.  As a nonprofit organization, the Basie is committed to enriching the community’s quality of life by generating opportunities for participation in the arts, partnering with schools, collaborating with other mission-based organizations and driving regional economic prosperity. The Basie Center has hosted an array of world-class artists, including Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band, Jon Bon Jovi, John Legend, Crosby Stills & Nash, Tony Bennett, Sophia Loren and Ringo Starr. Count Basie Center programming is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

For more information, visit www.thebasie.org.