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The 19th Annual Spring for the Arts Breaks Fundraising Record

CAP held its 19th annual Spring for the Arts on Friday, April 26 at Epping Forest Yacht & Country Club. The organization’s signature fundraiser raised a record-breaking $820,579 in support of arts education and therapeutic programs for children and young adults in Northeast Florida.

Since its inception, Spring for the Arts has generated nearly $9 million for arts education in the greater Jacksonville area. It is a fundraiser that celebrates community engagement in support of funding arts education initiatives throughout the region.

“It is with immense gratitude from the entire CAP family that I say thank you to every attendee, sponsor and donor who made this year’s Spring for the Arts our most successful fundraiser yet,” said Rev. Kimberly L. Hyatt, CAP President & CEO. “It is a testimony not only to the generosity of our community but also their commitment to providing all children along the First Coast access to quality arts education.”

Amy & Gary Norcross (left), Honorary Chairs with Karen & Greg Montana (right), Guardian of the Arts Award Recipients

The event was emceed by First Coast News anchor and CAP board member Anthony Austin, and speakers included Spring for the Arts Honorary Chairs Amy and Gary Norcross who spoke of the impact arts education makes on the lives of children, as well as Evan, a fourth-grade student at Central Riverside Elementary School who shared his experience in the CAP string program. Magen McRoberts of Boundless Impact Agency ran the live auction and encouraged attendees to donate more than $255,000 through the Ignite A Dream paddle raise.

“The most important lesson I’ve learned through CAP is that making your dreams come true takes a lot of determination, teamwork, self-discipline and effort,” said Evan, CAP’s student speaker. “I think we can all agree that life is what you make of it, and CAP makes life beautiful!”

CAP honored Karen and Gregory Montana with the 2024 Guardian of the Arts Award, a stunning ceramic artwork by local artist and Jacksonville University professor Tiffany Leach. The Montanas have been loyal supporters of CAP for many years and have made a tremendous impact in the Jacksonville community, with a specific focus on expanding education to people in underserved communities.

Evan, CAP string student, speaks to the crowd at Spring for the Arts

The 19th Annual Spring for the Arts would not have been possible without the generous support of Honorary Chairs Amy & Gary Norcross; Event Chairs Marisa & Frank Martire; Fidelity National Financial and the many sponsors who made the event possible; the Delores Barr Weaver Forever Event Fund; as well as The AutoValet, Bold City Classics, Harlow James Floral, Epping Forest Yacht & Country Club and numerous board members and volunteers for helping execute another successful event.

The 20th Annual Spring for the Arts will be held on April 4, 2025.

View event photos on Facebook or Flickr.

For media inquiries, please contact media@capkids.org.

Every child has a creative spirit. The study of music develops their unique strengths – like self-confidence, creative thinking, self-respect, empathy and perseverance. Participation in the arts creates extraordinary change in the lives of children that sets them up to succeed in school and in life.🌟#theartsaddup #capkidsjax #artsed
CAP is hiring a Part Time Teaching Artist in Strings! As a CAP Teaching Artist specializing in strings, you'll inspire young lives by providing instruction in violin, viola, cello and/or bass in afterschool settings across Northeast Florida. You'll create and utilize engaging, standards-aligned curriculum and lead enriching educational experiences that ignite students' creative spirits and foster a lifelong appreciation for music. For more information visit our work at CAP link in bio. Apply today!🎻
Are you a military family? CAP is proud to provide two FREE week-long arts camps for Blue Star Families this summer!🎶👯Supported by the @Kids Hope Alliance, CAP’s Brave HeArts program provides military families with the opportunity for their students to explore their creativity through a variety of arts experiences and performances. Led by CAP teaching artists, campers of all experience levels will enjoy music and dance activities designed to spark creativity and self-expression. Learn more and register at our Brave HeArts link in bio!💙

Session 1 | Music Exploration
July 6-10 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Rising 3rd – 5th graders
Campers will explore their musical interests through both individual and collaborative instruction. 

Session 2 | Dance Exploration
July 13-17 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Rising 3rd – 5th graders
Campers will embark on an exciting journey in this beginner-level dance camp.

Location: Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church, 4001 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207
Come out to this Riverside Arts Market and cheer for our Emerging Artists Programs students in the CAP Dance Ensemble, CAP String Orchestra and CAP Theatre Company on the River Stage this Saturday, May 2 beginning at 10:30 am! 🎻👯🎭Looking forward to seeing you all there!
Spring for the Arts is tomorrow and the silent auction is officially OPEN – you can place your bids remotely or in-person with the auction link in bio!

This annual event celebrates the impact you, our donors, have had on local students, and raises funds for CAP's REIMAGINE Campaign, with the ultimate goal of putting paint brushes, instruments, scripts and dance shoes in the hands of more children in Northeast Florida than ever before. Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow.🎉Happy bidding!
Cathedral Arts Project (CAP) is grateful to announce that we are recipients of the Find Your Light Foundation's 2026 grant! Their support allows us to to empower every child’s creative spirit, ensuring that students across Northeast Florida have access to essential arts education that recognizes, grows and amplifies every student's unique skills and strengths.

Find Your Light is dedicated to supporting exceptional arts programs where the need is greatest, recognizing arts education as an essential part of a young person’s development. 
Thank you, @Fylfoundation, for championing the power of the arts and helping CAP make a lasting impact! #TheArtsAddUp #ArtsEducation
It was a whirlwind weekend at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts, where more than 1,000 Cathedral Arts Project students danced, acted, sang, drummed, and played their hearts out at the annual Performing Arts Showcase!

Thank you to our emcees, teaching artists, assistants, staff, volunteers, parents and students who made this weekend so special. Your dedication created a truly magical experience for everyone involved.

Special thanks to State Representative Kiyan Michael; Darryl Willie, Duval County School Board, District 4; and Melody Bolduc, Duval County School Board, District 7. We are grateful for leaders who champion the power of arts education and recognize its lasting impact on student learning and growth.

Huge thank you to our sponsors, The Willits Foundation, VyStar Credit Union, Cara & Scott Baity and Anne & Marc Mayo. 
Stay tuned for more Showcase photos! 🌟
"Through the Cathedral Arts Project (CAP), children discover what it feels like to give their full attention to something meaningful and in doing so they are reclaiming a skill that many of us have forgotten how to practice.
 
We used to think of focus as something we simply had or didn't. But what if it's more like a muscle that weakens when it's rarely used?

Hand a child a violin, a sketchbook or a script and watch time disappear. In that moment of total focus, something extraordinary happens. Learning deepens.  At CAP, that’s the quiet brilliance of arts education; it trains not just the eye or ear, but the mind to stay." 
- Kimberly Hyatt, President & CEO, Cathedral Arts Project 

Learn more at our link in bio.🌟
#TheArtsAddUp

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