Prime Shine Car Wash To Help Fund Bus Transportation To To Gallo Center

In response to declining attendance at arts education performances at the Gallo Center for the Arts, a problem the performing arts venue attributes to a lack of school funds to furnish bus transportation, Prime Shine Car Wash has established a $75,000,five-year program to help offset those costs. The “Prime Shine Driving the Arts Fund” will be administered by the Gallo Center, beginning immediately and continuing through June 2016.

“This is a huge gift to the children of our community,” said Lynn Dickerson, Gallo Center CEO. “Norm Porges and his family are to be saluted for stepping up in a very big way.” Dickerson said that while the Center’s arts education offerings are more robust than in previous seasons, “it has been disappointing to see such programming go untapped because the school districts are so strapped.”

“More than 130,000 children from 155 different schools have been fortunate to see shows at the Center during past seasons,” said Norm Porges, Prime Shine Car Wash founder and co-owner with his son, Evan. “We must keep the momentum going. At Prime Shine we believe arts education is one of the building blocks of learning. We are happy to contribute and we urge other businesses, civic organizations and individuals to do the same.”

The Prime Shine Driving the Arts Fund will support bus transportation for K – 12 school children in Modesto City Schools, Stanislaus County Office of Education schools, and the Turlock School District. Grants will be given for up to $200 per bus trip. Schools must purchase a minimum of 50 tickets at the Costa Family Fund discounted rate of $5 per student to qualify.

Transportation grants apply only to Gallo Center-produced arts education programs. Performances by California Theatre Center, the Gallo Center’s resident companies, or independent producers are excluded.

Grant application forms are available online at www.galloarts.org/artseducation. Schools should fax grant applications, specifying selected performances and number of tickets to be purchased to (209) 338-5006, attention Mallory Hawkins. Invoices must accompany applications for reimbursement.

The Gallo Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Center’s 2011-12 Premier Partner is Boyett Petroleum.