Giving Levels and Scholarship Funds!
Since all of our programming is FREE to participants, it is only through the generosity of various individuals, foundations, and corporations that we are able to provide high-quality and meaningful arts education opportunities to the youth of North Texas. Help us make a difference in the lives of 15,000 kids and teens!
Giving Opportunities
Junior Players art programs in North Texas schools and recreation centers are a vital element in addressing the issues and needs of low-moderate income youth. With your support, we can continue to:
- Provide educational opportunities and creative alternatives for low-moderate income youth during the critical after-school hours
- Teach youth to resolve conflicts non-violently, using communication strategies such as listening skills, identifying feelings, and brainstorming non-violent solution options
Junior Players Scholarship and Memorial Funds
“Ever since I've joined Junior Players my life has taken a turn for the better. Junior Players legit changed my life and I owe them a lot - I owe them so much for providing programs like this - I love Junior Players and I love all they stand for"
Sponsor a Season Production Scholarship ($1,500+)
Supporting a Season Production Scholarship of $1,500 will ensure that at least one deserving graduating senior will be recognized for their incredible work and dedication to the performing arts. This sponsorship option will help improve higher education opportunities for Junior Players’ many college bound students. Each scholarship can be held in trust for a specific production upon request.
Sponsor will have the opportunity to meet the participants receiving the scholarship and will have the option of presenting the award to the graduating senior(s) on the selected date of the award presentation.
Half-page ad in the correlating production program of the allocated scholarship
Recognition in the Summer Shakespeare Production, Winter Musical and Dance Production programs
Annual Scholarship ($2,500)
An annual scholarship carries your name or the name of someone else you choose to honor. This sponsorship will improve higher education opportunities for Junior Players’ many college bound students. Each $2,500 scholarship can be held in trust for a specific production upon request.
Sponsor will have the opportunity to meet the participants receiving the scholarship and will have the option of presenting the award to the graduating senior(s) on the selected date of the award presentation.
Half page ad in the correlating production program of the allocated scholarship
Prominent recognition in all print and promotional materials including semi-annual newsletters and after-school and summer print programs
Matthew Tomlanovich Memorial Scholarship Fund ($50-$2,500+)
Matthew Tomlanovich, a longtime professor, director, actor and mentor in the Dallas theater community, died Sunday, October 19, 2014 after battling complications ensuing from an MRSA infection that left him paralyzed and hospitalized. He was 54 and spent his last moments surrounded by his wife of twenty-one years, Claudia Stephens, a professor of costume design at Southern Methodist University, their sons Raisch and Eli and friends.
The Michigan native, who had earned a masters from the Central School of Speech and Drama in London and an MFA in Acting from California Institute of the Arts, taught at SMU, University of North Texas and UT Dallas, and was acclaimed for his work with Junior Players, which began in 2000 and continued until his sickness prevented him form working further. He also revived the Margo Jones Theatre in Fair Park in 2013 as a venue for emerging theater organizations. Stephens and her husband enjoyed fly-fishing, museums in Paris, hanging out with family and particularly liked the way their minds “intertwined,” as she put it, over crossword puzzles. (Previous by Nancy Churnin, Dallas Morning News)
Matt directed Junior Players’ Shakespeare productions from 2000 to 2006, and continued to teach in the advanced acting programs through early 2014. He touched numerous young lives in Junior Players during that time. In honor of Matt’s legacy, Junior Players is proud to establish the Matthew Tomlanovich Memorial Scholarship Fund, which will ensure that Matt’s vision of continued greatness in the arts lives on through future generations.
$2,500+ sponsor(s) will have the opportunity to meet the participants receiving this scholarship and will have the option of presenting the award to the graduating senior(s) on the selected date of the award presentation.
Prominent recognition in all print and promotional materials including semi-annual newsletters and after-school and summer print programs
Afiah Bey Memorial Kwanzaa Program
Longtime Junior Players Teaching Artist, community advocate, and member of our Junior Players family, Afiah Bey, passed away after suffering from complications with pneumonia. Junior Players is proud to carry on a portion of Afiah’s incredible impact to the community by creating the Afiah Bey Memoral Kwanzaa Program. Afiah's work with Junior Players and other community organizations has had a profound impact on our community and thousands of young children she inspired through her art.
Afiah Bey was born the 5th of 11 children in West Dallas Projects. She attended Dallas Public Schools and graduated in 1975 from Skyline High. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Special Education from East Texas State University in 1980. During ten years of public school teaching she invited a storyteller to the school and then decided she could do just as well. She did stories to her special education students which spread over to the rest of the school. This led to her doing stories for almost every major festival and cultural event in Dallas.
Afiah was an exceptional artist, friend, family member, community advocate, and cultural icon and we take comfort in the fact that she lives on through the thousands of lives she has impacted through her work.
