Leading Ladies of Ruth Eckerd Hall Help Pinellas Schools with PASSport to the Arts ProgramLeading Ladies have been donating all proceeds from their fundraising projects since its inception to art education for youth and children programs not only at Ruth Eckerd Hall but also in outreach programs in the community. The PASSport to the Arts program has been the recipient of some of these funds. The PASSport to the Arts program started as a pilot program in 2001 targeting Pinellas County schools with at least one-third of its student body at or below the poverty level exposing studies to art experiences. With the help of P.E. and art instructor, visiting teaching artists in music, drama, and dance have worked with traditional curricula of math, language, science and social studies infusing the arts into the entire learning environment. These programs have helped raise overall achievement in test scores from failing to a consistent "A" score over the past four years (2002-2006) - one school has 70 percent of the students on Free and Reduced Lunch and 40 percent English as a second language. A great example of what the arts can bring to the educational process. Leading Ladies of Ruth Eckerd Hall are so grateful to everyone in the community for supporting its fundraising events throughout the years and hope you will continue to do so in the coming years. We, you the community and the Leading Ladies can make a difference in the life of children in our community. Thank you.
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