Education . the Arts, and EITC

Last year the Allentown Symphony saw over 14000 youth of Lehigh Valley. We did that with the help of individuals and corporations who contributed to education -- but largely with the help of the Education Tax Credits (EITC) made available to companies from the State of Pennsylvania. The current state budget stalemate has put those EITC dollars -- roughly $100000 of our annual budget in limbo. With a quarter of our fiscal year past--our education programs for the 2009-2010 season are at risk. There is no replacement money coming in. We must schedule now with the schools for programming to come. And there is no money to pay staff or musicians for those programs.

Over half the children we served last year are categorized as "at risk". Programming includes our Youth and Family Concert--with orchestra; our Musicians in Schools, Musical Petting Zoo, and more. In the next several weeks we have two such programs--at the DaVinci center on September 12 and at Air Products on September 15.

Please help the Symphony and all non-profits educating our children by letting your legislators know how important these funds are -- and getting educational funding approved in the Pennsylvania budget --including EITC. And, in the meantime-- if you are able--donate now to the Allentown Symphony Association for education!