Allied Arts

Allied Arts celebrates surpassing $3-Million Dollar goal

Central Oklahoma’s arts community to benefit from record-breaking community support in 2012

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla., May 17, 2012 – Allied Arts celebrated on Tuesday at the Myriad Botanical Garden’s Water Stage by announcing that this year’s fundraising campaign surpassed its $3-million dollar goal by raising $3.12 million to help support arts and cultural organizations. 

Although banners used to reveal the grand total displayed $3,095,027, last-minute donations received Tuesday pushed the total to $3.12 million.

“This is clearly a milestone for Allied Arts,” said Deborah McAuliffe Senner, president and CEO of Allied Arts. “Just 10 years ago we were raising $1 million, and today we have surpassed $3 million.  We are fortunate to have tremendous corporate support as well as individuals who believe strongly in our mission. We all want to see a strong, thriving arts community.  The dollars raised thus far will have a significant impact not just in central Oklahoma but throughout the state.”

These funds support Allied Arts member agencies – 20 of central Oklahoma’s top arts organizations – as well as additional arts organizations to ensure arts education programing, high-quality performances and exhibits, and low-cost arts experiences for the entire community.

This year’s fundraising campaign was chaired by Tricia Everest and James Pickel. Everest and Pickel led a team of more than 130 volunteers who contributed to the success of the campaign. 

“It is the work of so many that brought us to where we are today,” said Pickel. “Past leaders, corporate leaders and community volunteers all worked together to make this happen. However, our work here is not finished. We will continue to build upon the excitement and momentum of this campaign to further elevate the arts and their impact on our communities.”

Leading the charge among corporate donors were Allied Arts Visionaries – Chesapeake Energy Corporation, the Chickasaw Nation and Devon Energy Corporation.

“Without visionary support, Allied Arts and the arts community would be hard-pressed to achieve this level of success,” Everest said. “These philanthropic visionaries are truly invested in the betterment of our communities. They give generously, and their employees volunteer extensively with many of our agencies.”

In addition to corporate gifts, more than 120 businesses conducted employee giving campaigns for Allied Arts which raised more than $614,000. The top-producing employee giving campaigns were Ackerman McQueen, American Fidelity, BancFirst, Bank of Oklahoma, Chesapeake Energy Corporation, Devon Energy Corporation, OGE Energy Corporation and The Oklahoman.

The annual campaign also honors individuals for their local leadership and contributions to the community. The 2012 campaign paid tribute to Becky and Barry Switzer and Jeaneen and Robert Z. Naifeh for their contributions in furthering quality of life throughout Oklahoma.

During the program Pickel and Everest ceremoniously handed over their campaign leadership roles to John Richels and Judy Hatfield, who will serve as co-chairs for the effort in 2013.

Allied Arts is still accepting donations, as the 2012 fundraising efforts will officially end on June 30 with the close of the organization’s fiscal year.  For more information or to contribute, please visit www.alliedartsokc.com or call (405) 278-8944. Donations are tax-deductible and accepted any time.

About the 2012 Allied Arts Co-Chairs

Everest, an attorney, is a longstanding member of Allied Arts Circle Club, a previous campaign volunteer, as well as the current Advisory Board Chairman of the Inasmuch Foundation, a trustee of Oklahoma City University, a director of the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City, a member of the Board of Visitors for Casady High School, and a member of the Board of Visitors for the OU College of Law.  She has also served other organizations, including Positive Tomorrows, Community Hospice, Calm Waters, Special Care, Infant Crisis Services, Oklahoma Lawyers for Children and A Chance to Change.

Pickel, owner and executive vice president of Smith and Pickel Construction, has been involved with Allied Arts for more than two decades in a number of capacities, including his current role as Chairman of the Allied Arts board of directors for 2011-2013, executive committee member, past campaign co-chair in 1992 and 1993, OPUS co-chair in 2010, and allocations committee member.  He also provides leadership to a number of Allied Arts member agencies, including Science Museum Oklahoma and City Arts Center, as well as other cultural entities such as the Cultural Development Corporation of Central Oklahoma, the Civic Center Foundation and the Myriad Gardens Foundation.  In 2009, he received the Dean McGee Award for his outstanding service to downtown Oklahoma City.

Jeaneen and Bob Naifeh have been longtime supporters of Allied Arts and are passionate about supporting the community. They support numerous organizations, including Oklahoma City University, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, the University of Oklahoma, St. Anthony Hospital Foundation, INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center, and The Annie Oakley Society for The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

Barry Switzer is best known for his role as head coach of the University of Oklahoma and the Dallas Cowboys football teams, while Becky Switzer served as gymnastics coach for both the University of Oklahoma and the 1988 USA Women’s Olympic teams.  However, they have also been active philanthropists in Central Oklahoma through their involvement in Special Olympics, Society for the Prevention of Blindness, the Jasmin Moran Children’s Museum, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, The Care Center and Norman Public Schools.

About Allied Arts

As Oklahoma’s only United Arts Fund, Allied Arts works to broaden support for the arts by raising financial support for the arts and related organizations, encouraging participation and attendance, advocating for arts education, and promoting excellence in the arts and arts management. Founded in 1971, the organization has raised more than $45 million to advance the arts in Central Oklahoma.

Allied Arts member agencies include:

• Ambassadors’ Concert Choir
• Arts Council of Oklahoma City
• Canterbury Choral Society
• Carpenter Square Theatre
• Cimarron Opera
• City Arts Center
• Individual Artists of Oklahoma (IAO)
• Lyric Theatre & Thelma Gaylord Academy
• Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art
• Metropolitan School of Dance
• OK City Chorus
• Oklahoma Children’s Theatre
• Oklahoma City Ballet
• Oklahoma City Museum of Art
• Oklahoma City Philharmonic
• Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park
• Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition (OVAC)
• Oklahoma Youth Orchestras
• Prairie Dance Theatre
• Science Museum Oklahoma