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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, contact Nan Kavanaugh, Senior PR & Communications Manager, Wingard at nan@wearewingard.com or Jennifer Clements, Director of Marketing & Communications, CAP at jennifer@capkids.org.

Kick off the holiday season TONIGHT at James Weldon Johnson Park during Art Walk for the CAP Student Holiday Show. Our Vice President of Programs, Luisa Reis and a CAP student will be live on air at 5:30 PM on WJXT! 

Students from Hyde Park World Drums, Abess Park Chorus, Chaffee Trail Dance and CAPSO quartet will be performing from 5 - 6 pm before the tree lighting.🎄Don't miss it! #ArtWalkJax #CAPkidsjax #TheArtsAddUp
We are grateful for the remarkable growth of the Cathedral Arts Project this year. Growth stems from generosity—of time, resources, and support. Thanks to your generosity, we've reached new heights, ensuring creativity thrives for thousands of children in Northeast Florida. Happy Thanksgiving!
Through the generous sponsorship of PNC Bank, CAP partnered with MOSH today for an exciting and fun event! CAP families enjoyed an arts integrated celebration and exploration of science, nature and the St. John’s River. Through activities like storytelling, acting, making music and creating visual art, we celebrated our community’s most valuable resources, our children and our environment! Special thanks to our CAP team, volunteers and @thejessiejax @kidshopealliancejax @pncfoundation @stuartstotts @moshjax  #TheArtsAddUp #CAPkidsjax #artsed ✨
Countless studies reinforce what we see every day—children who participate in the arts consistently show striking improvement in class participation and academic achievement, grow in their ability to communicate effectively, and gain the insights, empathy and language needed to understand themselves, others and the world around them. Visit capkids.org for information about how you can help support our #artsed mission. #CAPkidsJax #TheArtsAddUp
CAP instructs, instills and inspires through a variety of offerings including afterschool, school day and summer programs, cultural experiences, advocacy, community partnerships and professional development.

Through CAP programs, children and young adults receive quality, standards-based instruction in dance, media arts, music, theatre and visual arts. Learn more about our #artsed programs at capkids.org.
#CAPkidsjax #TheArtsAddUp
"The most important thing I learned in my CAP class is to inspire other kids and follow your dreams." From students to stakeholders - the commitment to CAP’s long-running programs is due to the compelling nature of our curriculum, the quality of our local teaching artists and the desire of children and families to embrace education in the arts as a means of fostering true change in their lives. Learn more about our programs at capkids.org. #CAPkidsjax #TheArtsAddUp #artsed
CAP’s vision is for Northeast Florida to lead the nation in providing essential and accessible arts education that recognizes, grows and amplifies every child’s unique skills and strengths. 

The driving force behind all CAP programs is the belief that the arts matter—they provide essential skills, like creative thinking, perseverance, teamwork and self-discipline that benefit all people in all areas of their lives. 
Visit capkids.org for more info. #CAPkidsjax #TheArtsAddUp
Artistic expression communicates the feelings, preferences, interests and experiences of the artist. Arts education provides children with essential tools to communicate more clearly, providing insight into a better understanding of each other and themselves. Learn more about our #artsed programs and our mission to inspire the creative spirit in every child at capkids.org. #TheArtsAddUp #artsed #CAPkidsjax
Did you know? Arts learning improves cognitive development in children, including verbal communication attentions skills and memory retrieval that also apply to other subject areas. 

Learn more about how you can support CAP’s mission to empower every child’s creative spirit, elevate arts educators in their field and advocate for access and equity in arts education by visiting our link in bio. 
#TheArtsAddUp #CAPkidsjax #artsed
Arts learning improves cognitive development, verbal communication, attention skills and memory retrieval. CAP's sensory arts program at Palm Avenue Exceptional Student Center inspires growth in these areas and beyond.  Learn more about how you can contribute to our mission to empower every child’s creative spirit, elevate arts educators in their field & advocate for access and equity in arts education by clicking the link in our bio. #TheArtsMatter #CAPkidsJax #artsed

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