Formed in 1992 to make makes classical music attractive, accessible and affordable for residents of the tri-state, the KSO has provided free educational programming to area students and schools for over two decades.  

A Dater grant helped the KSO reach 58 schools from six counties in 2016-17 in response to the need for sustaining and supplementing arts education.   Over half of the 4,200 participating students were economically disadvantaged.  To date the KSO Education Outreach programs have reached 130,581 students at no cost to them or their schools.  The Dater Foundation has made annual grants since 2006.

Grants made in October:

Bi-Okoto Cultural Center, $20,000.  The E Sin Mi D’Afrika (Come Follow Me to Afrika) residency employs multisensory, multidisciplinary arts integration to enhance learning experiences in the daily academic curriculum for 3,000 students. 

Boy Scouts of America – Dan Beard Council, $10,000.  ScoutREACH insures that all young people have an opportunity to join Scouting by delivering the Cub Scout and Boy Scout program to low income and underserved minority youth

CET – Public Media Connect, $50,000.  Quality, trustworthy and entertaining educational programing is the hallmark of CET’s outreach to children of all backgrounds.  This happens 70 hours a week on flagship station WCET, 24/7 on a dedicated Kids Channel, and through Internet streaming and other features on the station’s web site. 

Cincinnati Arts and Technology Center, $10,000.  The CATS high school arts program targets students at risk of not graduating from high school and provides them with additional support so they stay in school, become self-sufficient young adults, and find an educational or career path beyond graduation.

Cincinnati Museum Center, $25,000.  The Children’s Museum stimulates children to “learn through play” and serves young people and families with exciting, educational and age-appropriate programming throughout the year.  Support also includes the Learning Through Play conference and registration vouchers for underserved participants.

Cincinnati Works, $15,000.  The Job Readiness program assists at risk young adults in identifying their strengths and skills, and then moving forward with specific goals and strategies toward employment and economic self-sufficiency.

Inner City Youth Opportunities, $25,000.  Struggling Student to Successful Students is a free, intensive after-school academic intervention and youth development program to help 60 inner-city children in kindergarten through Grade 6 develop life and social skills and improve their academic abilities.

Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, $25,000.  Education outreach featuring free concerts for young people is designed to introduce and showcase classical music, assist educators in teaching core concepts in the arts and humanities, and offer impactful ways to inject music into cross-cultural lesson plans.

Linton Chamber Music, $20,000.  Peanut Butter and Jam Sessions, a series of nearly 40 Saturday morning concerts, present chamber music for pre-schoolers and their parents at locations throughout the region, including free concerts in inner-city neighborhoods.

Ronald McDonald House Charities, $15,000.  The Family Performance and Activities Program provides games, arts and crafts, shows and entertainment – many of them held in the Charles H. Dater Performance Theatre -- for guests at Ronald McDonald House.  This grant will provide performer stipends and cover a portion of administrative costs.  

Seven Oaks Farm Miniature Therapy Horses, $15,000.  The Just Say Whoa to Bullying program uses storytelling and hands-on activities with miniature therapy horses to teach school children bullying prevention techniques.  “Whoa” is an acronym for We Help One Another.

Starfire, $40,000.  Community Builders: One Family at a Time is a program that utilizes full-time staff “connectors” who work one-on-one with developmentally challenged Starfire members and their families.  The emphasis is on identifying the particular interests of each member so meaningful work, volunteer and social opportunities can be made available and a network of friends can be developed.  

Stepping Stones, $25,000. Saturday Kids Club provides extracurricular activities for children ages five to 16 whose disabilities prevent them from participating fully in typical after-school activities, and Saturday Young Adults offers late-afternoon and early evening social opportunities for similarly disabled young people.

The Underground, $20,000.  An after-school program with Winton Woods High School offers teenage students the opportunity to congregate in a safe space where they can build community, encounter positive adult influences, and develop creative and artistic skills.  The Underground’s goal is to be the preferred place for teens to spend time between home and school.

University of Cincinnati - Med Mentors, $15,000.  Medical students volunteer to mentor young people through outings to local cultural venues and special events that the youngsters would not otherwise have the opportunity to attend.  Nearly 200 medical students, about one-fourth of the medical student population, participate.

The Dater Foundation makes grants to non-profit organizations in the Greater Cincinnati area to carry out programs that benefit young people and focus in the areas of arts/culture, education, healthcare, social services and other community needs.  Information about the grantmaking process and guidelines and links to an online grant application website are available at www.DaterFoundation.org.

The private foundation was established by fourth-generation Cincinnatian, businessman and philanthropist Charles Dater (1912-1993) to ensure that his resources would continue to fund worthwhile community programs after his death. The foundation has made more than 2,800 grants totaling over $44 million since its inception in 1985. 

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For additional information regarding this news release, contact Roger Ruhl (513/598-1141).

The Charles H. Dater Foundation, Inc. is located at 602 Main Street, Suite 302, Cincinnati, OH 45202.