FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Karin Venegas, karin@anatgerstein.com, 347-361-7049
 

Flushing Town Hall Receives $50K Grant from Guru Krupa Foundation

(Flushing, New York) — In its third year of support for Flushing Town Hall, the Guru Krupa Foundation (GKF) has just donated $50,000 to the Queens-based cultural institution, Smithsonian affiliate, and historic1862 landmark owned by the City of New York. This grant is a substantial increase from the support the Foundation has given the multi-disciplinary arts center and beloved, community gem in the previous two years.

GKF is a private foundation that funds charitable causes based on the principles and philosophy derived from the value system of Hinduism.

“Flushing Town Hall's arts, culture and music programs cater to the population of Queens, which represents a melting pot of people from all over the globe. These programs are also developed in collaboration with New York public schools to meet their arts education curricula. Consequently, Flushing Town Hall's programs enable both children and adults from multiple ethnicities to learn the best things about each other, making them global citizens and promoting harmony and peaceful living," says Mukund Padmanabhan, president of the Guru Krupa Foundation. "These programs fit in well with our educational goals of providing support to children and our holistic goals of supporting programs that promote cross-cultural integration and collaboration. Consequently, we are very happy to continue providing support for FTH programming.” 

The grant allocates $16,000 for Flushing Town Hall's Diwali Festival on November 6, 2021 and its Holi Festival being planned for March of 2022.

Diwali, a festival of lights, is one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs, as well as some Buddhists. One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, Diwali symbolizes the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.

Holi, India’s festival of colors, celebrates the Hindu god Krishna, the arrival of spring, and the blossoming of love. For many, it is a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships.
Of the remaining grant dollars, $16,000 will fund artist fees in Education and public programs and $18,000 will pay for general operating expenses of Flushing Town Hall.

“Flushing Town Hall is profoundly grateful for the generosity of the Guru Krupa Foundation towards supporting this year’s Diwali Festival, as well as our Department of Education & Public Programs and general operating expenses,” says Ellen Kodadek, Flushing Town Hall’s Executive & Artistic Director. “Flushing Town Hall is an extremely complex organization serving New York City and beyond, including virtually during Covid, with hundreds of arts programs throughout the year, artist services and responsibility for an historic landmark building. It is so gratifying when a funder such as the Guru Krupa Foundation understands the financial needs of a non-profit arts organization such as ours and is willing to invest their funding towards our expenses in providing vital arts services to multiple communities. We are humbled by their trust and confidence in us.”

For the venue’s full schedule of fall events, visit: https://www.flushingtownhall.org/events
 

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COVID Policy:
In adherence with Mayor De Blasio’s Covid policy for performance venues, Flushing Town Hall will require all visitors, performers, and staff to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 with matching identification. Additionally, masks will be required at all times. For more details on Flushing Town Hall’s Covid-safety measures and vaccine requirements, please visit: https://www.flushingtownhall.org/covid-safety.

Support Global Arts With A Gift Today!
All gifts of $50 or more give you exclusive Flushing Town Hall Circle of Friends membership benefits including a Smithsonian membership, ticket discounts, and more! Donations in any amount are appreciated to support the artists and the nonprofit cultural organization as they continue to provide programming and entertainment across New York and the world.
https://www.flushingtownhall.org/circle-of-friends

Flushing Town Hall is a not for profit organization that receives major support from the National Endowment for the Arts; New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the  Governor and the New York State Legislature; New York State Assembly Member Ron Kim; The City of New York, Major Bill de Blasio; New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Commissioner Gonzalo Casals; Queens Borough President Donovan Richards; The New York City Council, Speaker Corey Johnson; Council Members Costa Constantanides, Daniel Dromm, Barry Grodenchik, Peter Koo, Karen Koslowitz, Paul A. Vallone, Jimmy Van Bramer; Howard Gilman Foundation, Booth Ferris Foundation, Guru Krupa Foundation, Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation.

To view current donor lists, please visit www.flushingtownhall.org/donor-listings

About Flushing Town Hall
Flushing Town Hall (FTH), a Smithsonian affiliate, presents multi-disciplinary global arts that engage and educate the global communities of Queens and New York City, in order to foster mutual appreciation. As advocates of arts equity since 1979, we support local, immigrant, national, and international artists, developing partnerships and collaborations that enhance our efforts. As a member of New York City’s Cultural Institutions Group (CIG), we serve to restore, manage and program the historic 1862 landmark on behalf of the City of New York. FTH celebrates the history of Queens as the home of Jazz, by presenting the finest in Jazz performance. We are committed to arts education and hands-on learning, for the arts-curious, arts enthusiasts, and professional artists. We serve one of the most diverse communities in the world and strive to uphold the legacy of inclusiveness that has defined our community since the Flushing Remonstrance of 1657.

Land Acknowledgement:
Flushing Town Hall acknowledges that we are on the traditional land of the Matinecock People, one of the original tribes of New York, and the first people of Flushing, Queens. The Matinecock continue to live and work on this land to this day. Flushing Town Hall honors their elders who have stewarded this land throughout generations.

For more information:
www.flushingtownhall.org
(718) 463-7700 x222
137-35 Northern Blvd. Flushing, NY 11354