NAPLES, FL (July 25, 2024): Opera Naples is pleased to announce it has received a $30,000 community leadership grant from the Collier Community Foundation. This is a one-time unrestricted gift given in consideration of recent state funding cuts and Opera Naples is one of several Collier County arts organizations receiving this special arts and culture funding.
Following the challenges of recent years, with marked impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic and significant damage to the Wang Opera Center from Hurricane Ian, this grant helps Opera Naples push forward into a new era. Opera Naples will soon announce a robust 2024/25 season with continued partnership with the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation and the presentation of four fully staged operas, representing a return to the same volume of opera presentations from prior to the pandemic. Additionally, Opera Naples continues to serve over 4,000 students each year with extensive in-school and community music education programs.
“We are very grateful to the Collier Community Foundation for their generosity with this grant,” remarked Opera Naples Chairman Emeritus Gerald Goldberg. “While we still have a shortage from the funding we thought we would get from the State, this $30,000 certainly helps bridge a good portion of the gap. We appreciate the value that CCF has shown that it places on the arts in our community, especially as Opera Naples embarks on an exciting new season ahead. We are also deeply grateful for the members of the community who have enthusiastically responded to our end-of-season campaign, on our website at operanaples.org.”
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OPERA NAPLES
Opera Naples is an artistic powerhouse, dedicated to presenting high-quality opera productions and concerts featuring prominent international performers and directors. Opera Naples has presented well-known grand operas such as La bohème, Carmen, Faust, La traviata, Madama Butterfly, Rigoletto, Tosca and more. An advocate of community service and education outreach, Opera Naples has introduced opera to more than 60,000 children since its inception through various programs, including in-school programs and performances in Lee and Collier counties, the Resident Artists Program and Summer Youth Program. The company is also committed to nurturing the region’s promising young talent through the Opera Naples Academy led by a faculty of prominent opera luminaries who offer an immersive program of vocal instruction, lectures and master classes. The company has earned local, regional and state government support. For more information, visit OperaNaples.org or contact info@ OperaNaples.org.
COLLIER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Collier Community Foundation ® is a tax-exempt, public, charitable organization established in 1985 to increase and focus on local private philanthropy. Today, the Collier Community Foundation manages over 850 funds, works with hundreds of nonprofits, and has granted over $328 million to nonprofit organizations, community programs, and scholarships. Informed giving, Powerful results ®. Learn more at colliercf.org or call 239-649-5000.
Media contact:
Melanie Kalnins
mkalnins@operanaples.org, 239-963-9050
Website: operanaples.org
Facebook: facebook.com/operanaples
Instagram: @opera_naples