Sitar Arts Center Celebrated its Students’ Work at The Corcoran Gallery of Art
to Raise Critical Funds for Arts Education for DC Children and Youth

Presented by sponsor Capital One Bank and
Hosted by The Mexican Ambassador to the United States Arturo Sarukhan and his wife Veronica Valencia-Sarukhan with Artistic Honorees renowned artists Isabel and Ruben Toledo

Washington, DC, April 7, 2011 - Sitar Arts Center, a multidisciplinary arts haven for children and youth predominantly from low-income households in Washington, DC, held its annual celebration and benefit at The Corcoran Gallery of Art, a longtime artistic partner of the Center, on Wednesday, April 6^th. Hosted by The Mexican Ambassador to the United States, Arturo Sarukhan and his wife, Mrs. Veronica Valencia-Sarukhan, the event featured live music by the Center’s Saints Band, the Exploring Music chorus, a fashion show highlighting Sitar’s own student designers, a special Mexican dance presentation and a performance by the Center’s Washington Ballet class performing a selection from Sleeping Beauty.

Artistic honorees fashion designer Isabel Toledo and her husband, artist Ruben Toledo were recognized for their contributions to the fashion and design world. Ms. Toledo, who became interested in Sitar through the comprehensive visual arts program and its incorporation of fashion illustration and fashion design, personally congratulated the Sitar designers on their creativity and hard work. Mr. Toledo remarked “What you have achieved here at Sitar Arts Center is really profound. To have you help these kids discover the key to their future is an amazing thing.” Mrs. Toledo followed with “It’s beautiful to be in a room full of so much love.”

The event celebrated the work of Sitar’s students and the cultural diversity of the Center, while raising critical support to directly benefit the more than 700 students a year who are enrolled at the Center and attend classes afterschool, on weekends, and during the summer months. With the help of a silent auction, a matching gift fund, 300 attendees at The Corcoran and a number of generous corporate and foundation sponsors, including Presenting Sponsor Capital One Bank, the evening raised almost a quarter of a million dollars that will directly support the students at the Center whose tuition is subsidized through charitable giving.    

These essential funds will enable Sitar to continue to provide programs to Washington’s children that make a lasting, positive impact on their lives and ensure that no child is ever turned away due to an inability to pay. The success of the fundraising effort was due in part to an impactful challenge fund of $35,000, sponsored by a generous group of individual Sitar supporters, to match all additional gifts made that night and in the following week.  Each year Sitar raises $1.4 million dollars to ensure that arts education is affordable for all children, regardless of income level.

Executive Director, Maureen Dwyer said, “We are in a time of serious and deepening cutbacks for arts education. Government and private foundations continue to scale back support. And of course, the detrimental effects of these cutbacks fall disproportionately on the backs of children from low-income households.  By helping us to reach our goal tonight, our community has made sure that our students continue to experience the quality of arts education and sense of personal connectedness that they have come to rely on from Sitar Arts Center.”

Located in the diverse Adams Morgan neighborhood, Sitar Arts Center’s student population is approximately 50% Hispanic, with a wide variety of Latin American cultures represented. The Center has a strong relationship with the Mexican Cultural Institute and was honored to have Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan and Mrs. Veronica Valencia-Sarukhan host this event. The Ambassador said “Sitar has become a true safe haven for young people and children who otherwise face harsh realities. I certainly believe Sitar is allowing our youth to sing dance, paint and design their future.”

To learn more about the event or contribute to Sitar Arts Center, please contact Monica Harrington at 202.797.2145 ext. 101 or monica@sitarartscenter.org.

Sponsors: Capital One Bank, Atlantic Trust, Capital for Children, The Kirstein Family Foundation, Doyle New York, Fathom Creative, Comcast, Glass Construction, Lavin Family Foundation, Pepco, The Peterson Family Foundation, Target

Event Co-Chairs: Mrs. Nancy Folger & Dr. Sidney Werkman, Kevin Lavin and Mora Solano Lavin, Nancy and Steven Smith