Staff members Katie Sword and Mark Mattera from the Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC), along with volunteers Will Fullman and Carolina Hidalgo, attended the 9th Annual Neighborhood House Day at Caudwell Playground in Morristown. The day is organized to provide fun events, food and entertainment from local businesses in town. It also exposes families to all that Morristown has to offer.
The Neighborhood House, located on Flager Street and founded in 1898, provides services for infants and preschoolers, children and youth from elementary school through high school and adults of all ages. Originally it was founded to help Italian immigrants acclimate to a new culture. Today its mission is to help all new immigrants, help families who are confronting economic challenges and foster cross-cultural acceptance.
MPAC provides After School Enrichment programs to Neighborhood House locations in Morristown and Randolph. Children get an introduction to the basic skills of musical theater through singing, dancing and acting. Professional theater teaching artists work closely with students on a weekly basis to give them a comprehensive musical theater experience. The students apply their newfound skills to rehearsing a short performance piece that is presented for families and friends. Not only do students learn performing arts skills, but they also learn about working with a group, cooperation and collaboration. MPAC’s longest running outreach program, the enrichment program has been held at Neighborhood House since 2006.
MPAC has also received a $5,000 grant from the TD Charitable Foundation supporting our Neighborhood House program. “Support from corporations such as TD Bank and the TD Bank Charitable Foundation will allow children from families living in underserved communities the opportunity to partake in a high-caliber arts program that addresses the essential arts requirement for early childhood education,” said Allison Larena, President and CEO, Mayo Performing Arts Center. We thank TD Bank for its support of our mission.”
"TD Bank and the TD Charitable Foundation are pleased to support this important education initiative. We believe that organizations such as Mayo Performing Arts Center and Neighborhood House play a significant role in sustaining vibrant and thriving communities," said Joseph Nalbach, regional vice president.
