Obamas Suprise Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detriot with $10,000 Gift

The Detroit News is reporting that President and Mrs. Obama have made a personal contribution in the amount of $10,000 to the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit - much to the surprise of the theater itself.  Says Theatre director Richard Sperling to the Detroit News, "We were stunned...it left us speechless."  So much so that it was only after the check cleared and the bank confirmed its validity that theatre personnel were convinced that it was not a hoax.

As stated on their website, the Mosaic Youth Theatre is an internationally recognized youth development program that concentrates on helping young artists excel on stage and in life by empowering them through professional performing arts training. 

Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, founded by Rick Sperling in 1992, was born out of a need to fill the gaps in arts education in metro Detroit schools while providing an artistic home for young actors, singers, and stage technicians. Serving only 25 young artists without any budget or home in its inaugural year, Mosaic Youth Theatre now has the participation of over 500 and tours with its performing youth nationally and internationally.

Each year more than 165 youth from over 50 different schools benefit from involvement in Mosaic's Youth Ensemble and Intermediate Training Programs. An additional 1000 youth participate in Mosaic's First Stage programs within schools and community centers throughout metro Detroit. 

The theatre company is currently running a fundraising campaign in hopes of hitting the $1,000,000 mark.  While Mosaic performers were invited to open for candidate Obama when he spoke at Cobo Center in 2008, the theater claims no other tie to the Obamas, the Detroit News reports.

As the theater is understaffed, the money will most likely be used to hire an emplyee, Sperling claims, although the gift is far more significant for the company in that "We feel it's a validation that our work is seen as important on a national level."

For more information on the Mosaic Youth Theatre, visit www.mosaicdetroit.org.

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