Why Our Donors Invest in ArtsNOW

Sustainable change in education requires long-term commitment. In 2025, ArtsNOW launched the Legacy of Learners Society to build and acknowledge a community of supporters who understand that sustained investment drives meaningful, measurable impact.

When donors give consistently and strategically, they provide the stability necessary for thoughtful planning and scalable growth. This support enables ArtsNOW to strengthen our delivery and expand into new schools with confidence.

We recently spoke with several members of the Legacy of Learners Society, each offering a distinct perspective on why sustained support for ArtsNOW’s work matters. We learned that behind this commitment are individuals with distinct experiences, perspectives, and motivations. Their responses tell a larger story about sustainability, shared responsibility, and the power of arts integration. 

Dr. Carol McGrevin & Gene McGrevin

For ArtsNOW Board Chair Dr. Carol McGrevin, joining the Legacy of Learners was both personal and strategic.

“I wanted to support this new initiative because I believe in sustained giving and hoped to encourage others to do the same. As a non-profit, it is imperative that we generate recurring funds so we can build a solid budget on secure funding sources. Hopefully, we will build a community of givers who believe in ArtsNOW's work and want to be more involved in the organization's long-term success.”

With more than 50 years in education, Dr. McGrevin sees ArtsNOW’s work through the lens of deep professional experience.

“I understand how children learn and what best practices will motivate students to engage in the learning process. Arts integration has a proven track record of success. Learning becomes fun, helping students internalize the material and express their understanding of the concepts in a way that makes sense to them. ArtsNOW brings learning to life, stimulating student engagement with core subjects. The US needs an educated society to survive and flourish in today's technological environment.”

From a governance perspective, she is clear about why giving circles matter.

“These funds create a financial base for ArtsNOW's continued growth. By joining other like-minded individuals, you can significantly influence the education of the next generation.”

For the McGrevins, sustained giving is not simply generosity. It is infrastructure.

Andy Hurt

Andy Hurt’s journey to philanthropy began in an unexpected place.

“Becoming a teacher at Hillside Conant School has been the most rewarding experience in my six decades of living. A good deal of this reward is by-virtue of our close-knit relationship with ArtsNOW.”

Andy initially learned about ArtsNOW through participating in professional learning at Hillside Conant.

“Philanthropy is not my usual wheelhouse, so the idea that I could actually give back was a rather new and strange concept,” he reflects candidly. “When I found myself graced with the opportunity of directly helping those truly in need of support, I finally began to occupy myself in the full-spectrum realization that the ‘gathering of wealth’ is ultimately a spiritual endeavor.”

He recalls a recent classroom moment:

“I was running late to school two weeks ago… I entered the classroom minutes after my kiddos. Many of them sang ‘Mister Andyyyieeee!’, and I immediately voiced ‘eee... come-on everyone, let’s harmonize!’ The whole class shared a harmonic, shared ‘eeeeeee...’. It was fantastic! I am not ashamed to say that this was the first, actual moment of my becoming able to add the A that was missing from my STEM.”

His encouragement to fellow educators is direct with giving:

“From one teacher to another: if you have the extra funds to spare, financially supporting ArtsNOW helps feed us all. The most important gift we can provide is to immerse ourselves in any way we can: the value of sharing ourselves with our kiddos is absolutely priceless.”

Bob & Marcia Stewart

Marcia Stewart, a retired educator, and her husband Bob support ArtsNOW because they understand how students learn.

“Students learn in many different ways. Not everyone responds well to a heavily STEM-based curriculum. We understand and support the inclusion of additional arts integration and learning opportunities into the classroom.”

She points to music as a powerful example.

“Music has a huge influence on children. They remember song lyrics to a catchy tune, and if relevant subject matter is incorporated into those lyrics, students will remember them more readily. If a student can enjoy or even have fun learning classroom material, that material will stick with a student longer.”

They also recognize the importance of staying current in a rapidly evolving education landscape.

“ArtsNOW provides the current understanding of the ‘what’ and the ‘how’ to channel energy and resources appropriately into the classroom for teacher support, program execution, and student results.”

Looking ahead, they hope to see a broader impact in public education.

“We are also hoping to see ArtsNOW expand into Tennessee public schools, where Tennessee funds are now being used for students to attend private schools instead of improving the public schools.”

A Shared Commitment

If you believe classrooms should spark curiosity, strengthen critical thinking, and give every student room to create, this is your opportunity to leave a tangible mark on education.

Educators return to ArtsNOW resources because they work. From March 16-20, ArtsNOW will host a one-week campaign to raise $26,000 to expand our online arts-integrated resources for students, families, and educators nationwide. Contributions will directly fuel the creation and distribution of free digital lesson plans, instructional units, video modules, and at-home learning activities. These tools are already among the most visited pages on our website, proving that educators are actively seeking high-quality, ready-to-implement arts integration. This campaign ensures access isn’t limited by zip code, budget, or bandwidth.

“Real change in education happens when people choose to invest in tools teachers can use immediately and students can benefit from right away,” said ArtsNOW President & CEO Pamela Walker. “Every gift helps to equip a classroom with new ways to think, create, and succeed.”

Invest in learning that works. Invest in ArtsNOW. Click here to donate $26 in ‘26.