In a significant gesture to mark its **100th birthday**, Orlando Family Stage has received a generous **$500,000** donation from **Dr. Phillips Charities**. This funding, distributed over two years, will support literacy-based programs and performances aimed at students in **Orange** and **Osceola counties**. Among the initiatives funded by this grant is the inaugural **Florida Children’s Book Festival**, scheduled to take place from **February 20 to 22, 2024**.
The longstanding partnership between Dr. Phillips Charities and Orlando Family Stage dates back to **1965**, when the charity made its first contribution to what was then known as the **Central Florida Civic Theatre**. Over the past six decades, Dr. Phillips Charities has provided a total of **44 grants** amounting to approximately **$880,000** to support the theater’s mission.
In a statement regarding the donation, **Ken Robinson**, president and CEO of Dr. Phillips Charities, expressed the organization’s commitment to the arts. “Our support of Orlando Family Stage reflects a longstanding belief in the transformative power of the arts for children and families. As the organization marks its 100th year, we are honored to invest in programs that promote literacy, creativity, and inclusion,” he stated.
Orlando Family Stage plans to enhance its educational offerings during its centennial celebration. This includes developing new curriculum resources to bolster literacy skills, expanding in-school residencies, and creating performances based on accessible children’s literature. The theater aims to foster a personal connection to literature through engaging theatrical experiences.
Central to this initiative is the **Florida Children’s Book Festival**, which will feature interactive literacy experiences with authors and performances designed to captivate young audiences. **Chris Brown**, the executive director of Orlando Family Stage, emphasized the importance of these events. “As we honor 100 years of empowering young people, our centennial celebration and inaugural Florida Children’s Book Festival are more than two significant milestones — they are catalysts for our next century,” he remarked.
Another vital component of the theater’s efforts is the **No Empty Seat initiative**, which aims to provide access to live theater for children and families unable to afford tickets. The financial support from Dr. Phillips Charities is expected to enable free access for over **2,000** students and family members throughout the yearlong centennial celebration.
Dr. Phillips Charities utilizes earnings from its investments and real estate to assist numerous Central Florida nonprofits. To date, it has contributed over **$261 million** in grants, pledges, and program-related investments to local organizations.
Focused exclusively on students and their families for the past **25 years**, Orlando Family Stage is the only professional theater in Florida dedicated to this mission. It is recognized as one of the **10 largest professional children’s theaters** in the United States.
“With the support of Dr. Phillips Charities, we aren’t just celebrating our history,” Brown added. “We are positioning Orlando Family Stage as a national leader in theater for young audiences.”
