Friends,
Today marks the 20th anniversary of Thea Foundation. It is humbling to reminisce about the past twenty years as a nonprofit serving the wonderfully creative and talented students in Arkansas. There have been many moments of unbelievable support—individuals, groups, other nonprofits, and corporations who have helped us make our statewide programs possible. I want to also honor the assistance from our loyal board members, hard working staff, dedicated donors, and selfless volunteers. You all have changed not only my life’s work, but also the lives of so many we’ve been able to help over the years.
We began the foundation to honor our late daughter Thea Kay, and we learned very quickly that Thea’s life-changing experiences in school could be replicated to benefit tens of thousands of Arkansas students year after year. I know that enriching experiences in school through arts education helps students enhance their confidence and spark creative thinking, which ultimately impacts their grades, relationships, and overall happiness. I fundamentally believe that arts education and engaging with art are essential components to the human experience.
To be honest, my biggest fear after losing Thea was that no one would ever say her name again. I couldn’t handle that knowing the kind of inspiring young lady she was, but I never imagined something so important would evolve to touch so many. We are deeply honored by the support we’ve received as we’ve been able to transform our programs and grow our impact in Arkansas public schools. On December 6, we will celebrate Thea Kay’s birthday and our second annual Thea’s Day of Giving. We hope you all will join us in acknowledging this important day as we look forward to what we can do together to help make the arts accessible to more and more young Arkansans.
In closing, I would like to express how much Linda and I admire and love all of you who have believed in us. It’s been twenty years of diligence and passion for our mission. Thank you for being by our side.
All my respect,
Paul Leopoulos
Enjoy a special message from Paul and Linda Leopoulos below.
Thank You to Our Supporters!
To donate early for Thea’s Day of Giving, please visit theafoundation.org/donate or contact Thea Foundation Director of Development Jennifer Owens Buie by email at jennifer@theafoundation.org.