PECO Partners With ArtsRising To Put Energy Into The Arts In Olney

PECO has made another Philadelphia first, putting its energy into the arts by partnering with ArtsRising and adopting the ArtsZone in the Olney section of the City in the neighborhoods surrounding Grover T. Washington, Jr. Middle School.

ArtsZones are the creation of ArtsRising, and are neighborhoods anchored by schools that connect teachers, students and the community to local quality arts education opportunities. In the Olney community, creative works of art and photography now hang from the street lamps of North Fifth Street, thanks in part to the presence of ArtsRising. Students from Grover Washington, Jr. and four other schools in the City, participated in Moore College of Art & Design’s Learning through Photography (LTP) program.

PECO has become the first company to adopt an ArtsZone, adding yet another layer of community outreach and support to help children gain access to high quality arts education and hands on experience.

"Research has proven that learning in and through the arts helps to keep students engaged, improves attendance and helps to foster a love of learning,” said Jeff Gordon, manager of Corporate Relations for PECO. "The PECO and ArtsRising partnership will help to improve and expand access to arts education. It will help ensure that young people can find multiple pathways to success in school and in their community.”

With the Philadelphia public school dropout rate upwards of 40%, there is an urgent need to find innovative ways to connect students to meaningful opportunities that will help them on their path to becoming productive and contributing members of our communities. Research shows that through a quality education inclusive of the arts, and with thriving communities behind them, Philadelphia’s youth will be engaged and successful in school and in life.

"Every school should be provided with the resources to retain teachers of subjects such as music, visual art, dance, drama, creative writing, computer technology and design,” said Varissa McMickens, director of ArtsRising. "PECO’s adoption of an ArtsZone is a unique and exciting opportunity to ensure that more children and youth in Philadelphia experience the magic and transformational power of the arts in school, in community and in life.”

Arts and culture organizations have an economic impact of more than $1 billion on the local economy. In 2011, PECO invested more than $1 million in the performing and visual arts in the Philadelphia 5-county region. The company also supports programs that encourage students from all backgrounds to stay in school, develop their talents and continue their education beyond high school.

Based in Philadelphia, PECO is an electric and natural gas utility subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC). PECO serves 1.6 million electric and 490,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania and employs about 2,400 people in the region. PECO delivered 87.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 39.5 billion kilowatt-hours-hours of electricity in 2010. Founded in 1881, PECO is one of the Greater Philadelphia Region's most active corporate citizens, providing leadership, volunteer and financial support to numerous arts and culture, education, environmental, economic development and community programs and organizations.

ArtsRising is a bridge to connect all children in Greater Philadelphia through schools and neighborhoods to the city’s diverse arts and cultural community and a high-quality education inclusive of the arts to prepare young people for success in school and in life. A collaborative initiative, ArtsRising is lead by a partnership between the Philadelphia Education Fund, Public Citizens for Children and Youth and Fleisher Art Memorial. To learn more about ArtsRising visit: www.myartsrising.org.

The Philadelphia Education Fund is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of public education throughout the Philadelphia region. For 26 years, the Ed Fund has worked in collaboration with schools, school districts, and other partners, to enhance teaching and learning; conduct research studies that fuel its work and that of others; directly assist students to access and succeed in postsecondary education; convene public education stakeholders in support of school reform policy and practice; and inform and engage citizens as public school advocates. The Ed Fund is one of the largest of over 75 education funds affiliated with the national Public Education Network. Visit www.philaedfund.org.