As we enter our first week of summer and close out our regular school and fiscal year, it is an important time to reflect on how much our supporters have inspired the faculty and families of Metropolitan School of the Arts.

During the year, we had more sponsorship support of Metropolitan than ever before.  Not only did several of our former Annual Sponsors increase their support, including Burtons Grill & Bar of Alexandria, Footlights Dance & Theatre Boutique, The Anderson Company, Robcyns and Burke & Herbert Bank, we welcomed new annual business sponsors – Jack Taylor’s Alexandria Toyota, The Jones Group, and Arbonne Consultant, Marni Miller.  We were also delighted to engage in new community relationships as we launched The Starving Artist Card, which offers discounts at local merchant locations.  As in former years, we were also so proud to have volunteer support from our local Kohl’s associates.

Also, in honor of the 5thanniversary of The Academy at Metropolitan, we launched “Feed The Passion of Young Artists,” our first annual fundraising campaign, raising nearly $80,000.  Along with its financial success, we are also able to share the news moving forward that the Academy family came together supporting their own with 91% of current families donating, an 76% of alumni families donating.

Last but not least, prior year donations to the Black Box Theater were put to amazing use in our own theater’s first full year – hosting more than 47 performances and events and over 4,700 patrons.

Finally, we tip our hats to many others who have donated countless hours of their time supporting productions or picking up administrative tasks when asked.  This range is so wide, from offering muscle, sweat and tears at the warehouse, practicing extreme patience as a room parent, or finding quick solutions or helping with quick-changes back stage.  From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for your support of our mission to provide excellence in the performing arts for our students.