Phamaly Theatre Company Receives Award From 50 States of Good Program

Phamaly Theatre Company has been selected as one of the 51 winners from each state and Washington DC in the sixth annual Tom's of Maine "50 States for Good" community giving program. The organization will receive $10,000 to fund important community projects and services that will provide professional theatre opportunities for actors with disabilities.

Phamaly's mission is to inspire people to re-envision disability through professional theatre. It is the only professional theatre company in the country exclusively featuring actors with disabilities across the spectrum (physical, cognitive, intellectual, and psychiatric). Phamaly brings a unique and unusual approach to the theatre landscape. In addition to professional theatre productions, Phamaly tour the region to bring high quality theatre and disability advocacy to schools and community venues. It also provides free acting workshops for all adults that have a disability in order to develop and strengthen performance and professional skills.

Phamaly's Development and Marketing Manager, Tamara Arredondo said, "We are thrilled to receive this recognition in the 50 States of Good for the work Phamaly is doing! Tom's of Maine is such a leader in healthy living and environmental advocacy and Phamaly seeks to provide this same leadership for the arts and disability communities. The funding that Tom's is providing will enable us to better compensate Phamaly performers with disabilities for their hard work and talent and expand our in-school touring program around the Denver metro area."

Non-profit community giving program winners from each state were selected from a pool of nearly 3,000 nominations by a passionate panel of influential judges representing a variety of unique perspectives on human, healthy and environmental goodness.

"So many important grassroots organizations bring goodness to communities every day," said Susan Dewhirst, goodness programs manager at Tom's of Maine. "For the first time we're awarding more than $500,000 in project funding for a nonprofit in every state and the District of Columbia that will go directly towards helping people nationwide and the planet."

For several decades, Tom's of Maine has donated 10% of its profits back to the community and encourages employees to use 5% (12 days) of paid time off to volunteer every year. For more information, visit www.tomsofmaine.com.

About Phamaly Theatre Company - Phamaly Theatre Company is now entering its 26th anniversary season of professional-scale performances exclusively featuring actors with disabilities (physical, cognitive, intellectual and psychiatric). Their mission is to inspire people to re-envision disability through professional theatre. Phamaly produces plays and musicals throughout the Denver Metro region, in venues such as the Denver Performing Arts Complex, the Arvada Center, the Aurora Fox Arts Center, and the Dairy Center for the Arts in Boulder. The organization additionally has an expanding statewide touring program. This year, Phamaly is serving over 150 performers with disabilities and nearly 20,000 audiences across the state. For more information on Phamaly, visit www.phamaly.org.

About Tom's of Maine - Tom's of Maine is a leading natural products company focused on oral and personal care carrying high quality toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss, antiperspirant, deodorant and bar soap products. The company has a long-standing commitment to supporting people, communities and the planet. For almost 45 years, Tom's of Maine has sponsored hundreds of nonprofit efforts by giving 10% of its profits back to organizations that support human and environmental goodness and by encouraging employees to use 5% (12 days) of employee time to volunteer. Tom's of Maine employees regularly contribute suggestions for improving the company's high sustainability standards. And their ideas, from wind power to ways to improve recycled and recyclable packaging options, are critical to the company's sensitive way of doing business. Most Tom's of Maine products are vegan, kosher and halal certified and gluten-free. All packaging is recyclable through a partnership with upcycling leader TerraCycle or participating municipalities. Tom's of Maine values partnering with its consumers, suppliers and community organizations to support lasting, positive change that is good for people and the planet. Visit us online at www.tomsofmaine.com or at www.facebook.com/TomsofMaine.