MBT Educational Scholarships: Donate Now and Change a Child's World
MBT has been bringing the magic of live theatre to the school children of our community through the Wade Bennett King Education Series since 1996, engaging 15,000 - 20,000 kids each year. Thanks to annual gifts from the Frank King family, local businesses, and MBT Members the ticket price is still just $6. Some students are able to attend multiple performances each season, but our research shows that many schools can’t afford the ticket and transportation costs to give their students even one theatre experience.
Because cost simply should not be a factor in arts access for students, the Educational Scholarships fund was created in 2016 to make sure these enriching experiences are available to a more diverse group of children. Donations to date have allowed an average of 2,000 students, teachers, and chaperones to experience the Wade Bennet King education series through scholarships each academic year! Tickets and transportation costs have been awarded to students from Kindergarten through 12th grade, across 14 schools in 9 communities and 5 counties.
Even just $6 can make an impact—join in the effort and help level the economic playing field by donating today!
$6 = one ticket to an Ed Show for a student
$30 = Ed Show tickets for five students
$150 = Ed Show tickets for one classroom (25 students)
$300 = Ed Show tickets for an entire grade (50 students)
$1,800 = Ed Show tickets for an entire K-5 elementary school (300 students)
Why The MBT Arts Experience Matters
The youth attending the education series come from Bellingham and rural Whatcom County, as well as Skagit, Island, San Juan, and Snohomish counties. Visiting Mount Baker Theatre allows each student to journey into the fields of the performing arts and provides an alternative lens through which students can explore different subjects, cultures, and points of view in a safe, immersive, and memorable environment. Starting the moment they step into the lobby of MBT’s awe-inspiring historic landmark building, children step outside their daily routines to experience sights, sounds, and ideas that expand their horizons.
It’s a pleasure to watch the joy on children’s faces when they are immersed in theatre, whether they’re attending a play or a performance by dancers, acrobats, musicians, or other artists. Talented professional performers spark youngsters’ imagination with exceptional storytelling through diverse methods. Students respond with surprise, delight, amazement, excitement, admiration, sometimes apprehension, and always appreciation.
The Wade Bennet King Education Series offers connections to state-required curriculum in many subjects, including language arts, social studies, science, history, and technology. Study-guides, created by the companies that produce the shows, are provided whenever possible in order to deepen student learning beyond theatre. These resources are full of pre- and post-show activities to meet learning standards and encourage dialog about the performances.
Join in the effort to level the economic playing field and donate today to make sure these benefits are accessible to a more diverse audience of students.
Thank you to all who continue to support the Educational Scholarships program!
Are you an educator interested in applying for Educational Scholarships? Contact Renee Gaumond, MBT Program Director
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