[RED BANK – OCT 16] – The nonprofit 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 the organization’s ‘Curtains Up For Kids’ school shows program.

“This grant from Horizon will enable the Basie Center to continue its important work to make attending programming for schools accessible for all,” said Samantha Giustiniani, Vice President, Education and Outreach, Count Basie Center for the Arts. “’Curtains Up For Kids’ allows students the opportunity to experience the arts in an educating and meaningful way.”

More than 10,000 students visit the Count Basie Center every year as part of its Curtains Up for Kids school show program — and for many, it’s their only opportunity to experience live performing arts. From classical music with modern twists, to the diversity of Asian and African artistry or historical plays like I Have a Dream, the Basie Center inspires students to dream forward through culture and artistic expression.

“Horizon is pleased to support the important work being done by the Count Basie Center to make the arts accessible to school-aged children,” said Jonathan R. Pearson, Executive Director of The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey. “The ‘Curtains Up For Kids’ program, 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 people create accessibility to 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.”

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ABOUT THE HORIZON FOUNDATION FOR NEW JERSEY

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey’s philanthropic arm, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, is focused on making 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 achieve their best health, 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.