The Combined Federal Campaign’s cause of the week is arts and humanities — the disciplines that enrich our lives and culture, challenge us to imagine and dream, and help us develop our capacity for compassion.
The campaign quotes artist Marc Chagall: “Great art picks up where nature ends.”
Too often, funding for the arts and humanities goes by the wayside at budget time, making donors crucial to their survival.
The pinch is felt in schools particularly. Funding for arts education has dropped dramatically over the years, and the coronavirus pandemic has threatened it further.
Yet a recent study by the Brookings Institution proves just how valuable arts education can be. The researchers found “remarkable impacts on students’ academic, social and emotional outcomes.”
Donating to the arts and humanities is money well-spent — money that will pay dividends now and in the future.
The campaign, also known as the CFC, includes several causes under the heading, including libraries, museums and international exchange.
If you are unsure of where to focus your giving in this category, the campaign’s website makes it easy:
Under “Donors” on the home page, choose “Online Charity Search” from the drop-down menu.
The second field is “Select a Specific Category.” From there, choose “Arts, Culture & Humanities.” The entries cover A-Z, from the Alaska Botanical Garden to the Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Foundation.
The Combined Federal Campaign is the federal government’s workplace charity drive. The latest campaign began Sept. 1 and runs through Jan. 15.
Participation in the CFC is voluntary.
The GiveCFC.org website has more information.
This is the fifth in a series of articles spotlighting the Combined Federal Campaign’s cause of the week. Next week: animal welfare.
