New Partnership Provides Grant Awards for Stage Improvements, Performing Arts Center Naming Rights and Scholarships for Graduating Seniors
June 20, 2019 — The Olmsted Falls Schools Endowment and Alumni Association and the Olmsted Falls City School District are excited to announce the award of three major grants from the Harding Family Charitable Trust. The new grants are designated for significant stage improvements at Olmsted Falls High School, naming rights for the Olmsted Falls High School Performing Arts Center and annual endowed scholarships for graduating seniors.
The Harding Family Charitable Trust has awarded just over $261,000 to the Olmsted Falls Endowment and Alumni Association for the purpose of making improvements to the stage in the existing Olmsted Falls High School auditorium to transform the space into a high quality performing arts center. The Harding Family Charitable Trust has also granted an additional $100,000 in funds for naming rights to the new performing arts space. These resources will be used for future special auditorium projects and for maintenance and upkeep.
Additionally, the Harding Charitable Trust has awarded $150,000 for Olmsted Falls High School Endowed Scholarships in the names of Amelia Harding, Clara Harding and Charles Harding. These new scholarships will be available starting with next year’s graduating class of 2020.
In total, these three grant awards will bring more than $511,000 in new funding resources to benefit Bulldog students and the school community in areas that held great meaning to the Harding family. As life-long residents of Olmsted Falls, Amelia and Clara Harding had a legacy of supporting their community in numerous ways, often in the memory of their beloved brother, Charles Harding.
“Having been a teacher at Olmsted Falls High School, Amelia Harding was always particularly interested in supporting the students in her community,” said Karen McCarthy, trustee of the Harding Family Charitable Trust.
“As trustees of the Harding Charitable Trust, we are proud to continue the Harding sisters’ legacy of giving by providing grants and scholarships that heighten the educational opportunities of Olmsted Falls Students,” said Tim Coyne, trustee of the Harding Family Charitable Trust.
“The Olmsted Falls Endowment and Alumni Association is so pleased to be able to honor the legacy of the Harding Family through our partnership with Olmsted Falls City Schools,” said Tim Radigan, president of the Olmsted Falls Endowment and Alumni Association. “We look forward to putting these grant funds to work and to making a lasting impact in both the area of performing arts as well as student scholarship resources.”
“We are incredibly grateful to the Harding Family Charitable Trust for these generous grants and to our own Olmsted Falls Endowment and Alumni Association for their leadership and ongoing support of Olmsted Falls City Schools,” said Dr. Jim Lloyd, Superintendent of Olmsted Falls City Schools. “Our school community is so fortunate to be able to continue to enhance opportunities for students through such wonderful partnerships.”
Improvements to the Olmsted Falls High School stage and auditorium will begin getting underway this summer. The following are some of the improvements planned:
- Stage extension and permanent orchestra pit (with removable/replaceable stage flooring feature)
- New stage curtain and rigging for lights, curtains, electrical
- Addition of carpeting beneath audience seating areas
- Various sound enhancement and amplification features
- Improved catwalk and auditorium lighting
These above improvements - made possible by the generous grant from the Harding Family Charitable Foundation - will transform the existing auditorium space into a truly impressive performing arts center. The official naming and dedication of the upgraded performing arts center will be scheduled for early 2020. The new name has not yet been revealed.
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Media Contact:
Kim Petrina
Director of Communications
Olmsted Falls City Schools
(440) 427-6020 / kpetrina@ofcs.net