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CAP Announces Amy and Gary Norcross as the 2023 Guardians of the Arts

CAP is pleased to announce Amy and Gary Norcross as the 2023 Guardians of the Arts for their efforts to safeguard and advance the arts along the First Coast.

The Norcrosses will be recognized at the 18th annual Spring for the Arts, on Friday, April 21, 2023, at Epping Forest Yacht & Country Club. Spring for the Arts is the signature fundraising event for CAP and one of the most well-attended events supporting arts education for children in Northeast Florida.

“I am especially thrilled to be able to recognize Amy & Gary Norcross in conjunction with CAP’s 30th anniversary,” said CAP President & CEO Rev. Kimberly L. Hyatt. “Amy and Gary have been loyal supporters of CAP for many years. Amy is a past CAP Board member, and she and Gary have hosted events for CAP at their home. Our 30th anniversary is a fitting time to honor them and the impacts they’ve made in our community.”

Amy and Gary Norcross

Amy and Gary Norcross have lived in Jacksonville since 2010. They relocated to the First Coast because of Gary’s executive role with Jacksonville-based FIS, from which he recently retired after more than 34 years with the company. Between the Norcross’ personal contributions and FIS’ corporate giving, they have given nearly $1 million to CAP over the years.

“Education is what makes the difference in breaking down economic barriers,” said Gary Norcross.

Both Amy and Gary are actively involved in philanthropy through the foundation they established in 2013. The Norcross Foundation focuses on health, education and faith-based charities. Their key focus over the years has been expanding education to people in underserved communities, and by extension, supporting first-generation college students through scholarship opportunities at multiple schools and universities.

“We are thrilled to be honored as Guardians of the Arts during the Cathedral Arts Project’s 30th anniversary,” said the Norcrosses. “CAP provides worthwhile visual and performing arts education to all children throughout Duval County. We see this as an extremely important initiative to provide a broad basis of education for all children and we are very excited to continue to support this worthwhile program through our Norcross Family Foundation.”

Tickets and sponsorships for Spring for the Arts are available at capkids.ejoinme.org/SFTA2023.

 

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
Did you know? The arts add up to increased graduation rates, a stronger economy and more creative individuals equipped to solve the challenges of tomorrow. Learn more about why #TheArtsAddUp and how you can support CAP's mission by visiting the link in our bio. #CAPkidsjax  #artsed
Learning any art form allows children and youth to gain essential skills like creative thinking, perseverance, teamwork, and self-discipline that benefit them in all areas of their life. The arts provide experiences that are personally enriching, building the confidence and character children need to excel. Visit the link in our bio to learn more about how CAP instructs, instills, and inspires students in our community!  #TheArtsAddUp #CAPkidsjax #artsed
“We all have dreams, but making dreams come to life takes a lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort—that is the most important lesson I’ve learned through CAP.”

Every child has a creative spirit. For some, it comes alive through the visual arts: turning blank pages and digital canvases into expressions of hope. For others, it breathes through their bodies – transforming notes, choreography, and words into personal statements of joy.
 
Children develop the technical skills to prepare for these moments through instruction in the arts. Along the way, the arts develop their unique strengths – like self-confidence, creative thinking, self-respect, empathy and perseverance. Learn more at the link in our bio.

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