Last week the nation recognized what we, here in Louisville, already knew. Mike McCallister is a world class leader in the Arts and Yum! Brands, Inc. is a model corporate partner which not only feeds the world, but puts a song in children’s hearts.
It was incredibly exciting to be in New York City with all eyes on Louisville. To be in the room with Microsoft, Turner Broadcasting, PNC, Scholastic and so many other corporate giants was thrilling. As Humana Inc.’s Mike McCallister received the BCA Leadership Award from Americans for the Arts and Yum! Brands, Inc. was named one of the BCA 10: Best Businesses Partnering with the Arts in America, it was a moment of pride for our hometown. We truly do live in a great American city where the Arts and philanthropy are center stage! You know how they say it’s all about the shoes, well at this gala it was all about the socks – check out Les Waters’ black and white polka dotted socks with red heels, bringing a little hometown spirit all the way to the Big Apple!
As if that weren’t enough, we hit the trifecta when Mayor Fischer invited us over to Metro Hall fresh from the tarmac last Thursday to join him during the Mayor’s Music and Art Series to give Arts citywide recognition. It was an incredible capstone to a whirlwind 24 hours. So thank you, Mayor, for your support of the great Arts work going on in our community.
See the highlights from the Mayors recognition in this week’s video blog and watch for it soon on Metro TV:
Michael B. McCallister, BCA Leadership Award Recipient
The Leadership Award was established by the Business Committee for the Arts in 1993 to recognize individuals whose vision, commitment and leadership champion the arts. This year’s recipient is Michael B. McCallister, Chairman of the Board of Humana Inc. McCallister has served as Board Chairman since 2010 and was Humana’s Chief Executive Officer from 2000 until his retirement from the position December 31, 2012. He has been a philanthropic leader in Louisville, KY, serving on the executive committee of the Fund for the Arts and chairing the overall community-wide Fund campaign in 2003. McCallister is also a major personal donor to the Fund for the Arts, and under his leadership, Humana has consistently been the top local donor to the Fund. In 2006, during McCallister’s tenure as Humana’s CEO, Humana was inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame.
Yum! Brands, Inc., Louisville, Kentucky
Believing a diverse and energetic city helps to attract and retain top talent from all over the world, Yum! Brands, Inc. is a strong supporter of the arts in Louisville, KY. In addition to annually donating more than $700,000 to local arts organizations, Yum! also provides marketing and advertising support, pro-bono leadership and expertise to the organizations receiving support from the Yum! Brands Foundation. The Yum! Family Series, which provides family-friendly programming through a partnership with the Fund for the Arts and seven local arts organizations, allows families outside the company to experience arts programs at a greatly reduced cost, particularly those families at an economic disadvantage. The Yum! Family Series also provides field trips and after-school programs for local students. In addition, the company generously matches employee gifts to the arts, allows employees time off to volunteer for arts organizations, and provides support on behalf of employees serving on local arts and culture boards.
Upcoming events:
Now – 26 2013 LVAA Public Photo Competition Exhibition Louisville Visual Art Association
Now – Oct. 31 Picture Love at Local Speed
Now – Oct. 31 Dracula Actors Theatre
Now – Nov. 3 Gene Spatz Exhibition: The Art of A Paparazzo Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft
Oct. 8-27 The Mountaintop Actors Theatre
Oct. 10-19 Six Characters In Search of an Author Walden Theatre
Oct. 11 & 12 The King’s Man/Danse Russe Kentucky Opera
Oct. 12 Raise the Barre Louisville Ballet
Oct. 12 & 19 The House at Pooh Corner StageOne Family Theatre
Oct. 15-20 The Addams Family PNC Broadway in Louisville
Oct. 19 Symphonic Spooktacular orKIDStra Louisville Orchestra
Oct. 19 Michael Jackson Louisville Youth Orchestra & 2ND CHANCE
Oct. 19 Saturday in the Park Kentucky Shakespeare
Oct. 20 Fall Concert Louisville Youth Choir
Oct. 23-26 Studio Connections Louisville Ballet
Oct. 10 – Nov 2 Louisville Jack O’Lantern Spectacular Iroquois Park
Every Thursday@ 10AM Listen to ArtBEAT! streaming live on ARTxFM with Barbara Sexton Smith -> Get the App
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Barbara Sexton Smith
President & CEO
Fund for the Arts
502-582-0100
