AACT Endowment

The AACT Endowment Fund was established to further the mission of AACT -- “to foster... the highest standards of excellence... by community theatres....”

Since 1969 national festivals have brought together diverse community theatres to perform for, share information with, and learn from each other.  Believing that these festivals, and the competition which they represent, have increased standards of  excellence, the Endowment Fund Board of Trustees follows a policy that the first priority for endowment fund use is the support of community theatre participation in national and international festivals.

The endowment fund began after FACT/Fest ’83 in Haines, Alaska.  Due to very successful fund raising, the hosts had a substantial profit, even after reimbursing participant companies for their travel expenses.  With that profit the Alaska State Community Theatre Association challenged the national community theatre organization to match a grant of $3,000. The idea was to create an ongoing source of funds to underwrite travel expenses for festival participants.  The challenge was met and the endowment was born.

The endowment reached $30,000 in 1990 and the first distributions were made to the participating companies of AACT/Fest ’91. By the beginning of AACT/Fest 2001 in Harrisburg, the endowment principal has grown to more than $110,000 and $31,250 has been awarded to theatres to help offset festival travel expenses.

The AACT Endowment Fund is administered and managed by a group of volunteers, many of whom are also, or have served as, members of the AACT Board of Directors. The main purpose of the Endowment Trustees is to increase the fund’s principal through a variety of fund raising activities. Individual contributions, special events such as this year’s ‘roast’ of Jean Hoffman, theatre donations and a silent auction are important parts of the fund raising plan. The last two AACT/Fest hosts, Theatre Memphis and the Whitaker Center, have made substantial donations to the fund.

The Trustees invite your consideration of a contribution and urge your participation in its fund raising activities.

Suggestions and questions about the endowment fund are welcome and may be directed to any member of the Board of Trustees or Julie Angelo, AACT Executive Director.

As a way of showing support for continued excellence in community theatre, please consider a contribution to the fund.  Checks should be directed to the AACT Endowment Fund and may be sent to the AACT office, 1300 Gendy St. Fort Worth, TX 76107.
 

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