Imagination Stage Receives Adventist HealthCare 2013 Community Partnership Award

On Monday, May 20, 2013, Imagination Stage was delighted to receive Adventist HealthCare’s 2013 Community Partnership Award for its residency at the Reginald S. Lourie Center for Infants and Young Children. As the only recipient this year, Imagination Stage is honored to be recognized for its work in the Lourie Center’s Therapeutic Nursery Program.

Marcel Wright and Jimmy Venza, executive director and associate executive director of the Lourie Center, respectively, presented the award to Imagination Stage staff members Bonnie Fogel, founder and executive director, Diane Nutting, director of access and inclusion, and Elizabeth Broder-Oldach, access coordinator and teaching artist of the program.

“The program that Imagination Stage brings to the Lourie CentPNCer’s Therapeutic Nursery Program enriches our children, and I could see how this program facilitates [the children’s] willingness to explore new ideas, try doing things in a new way, and teaches that effort has its own reward,” said Venza. “This partnership is one of the highlights of the Therapeutic Nursery Program.”

Imagination Stage’s programming at the Lourie Center’s Therapeutic Nursery Program centers on developing cooperative and imaginative play skills through the use of the four actor’s tools (body, voice, mind, and imagination).

“The Lourie Center and Imagination stage share a similar mission that we are both deeply committed to providing a positive and nurturing environment where every child can know they truly have a place to belong,” said Nutting. “Our creative drama residency is designed to guide each child to discover their own creative potential as they enhance their communication, cooperative play skills, and self-esteem. This partnership is one of the most treasured aspects of our programming each year. We look forward to continuing our partnership and finding new ways to help children soar.”

The Lourie Center is a private, nonprofit agency with a mission to understand and strengthen the emotional health of parent-child relationships within the community through early prevention, intervention, education, research, and training. The Therapeutic Nursery Program is a specialized preschool addressing the needs of young children, ages three to five, with emotional and behavioral problems that may interfere with success in a regular setting. It is the only Therapeutic Nursery Program in Maryland for children of that age.

This program is funded by PNC Grow Up Great, which began in 2004 to help prepare children – particularly underserved children – from birth to age five for success in school and life.

About Imagination Stage:
Founded in 1979, Imagination Stage is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to produce theatre and arts education programs which nurture, challenge, and empower young people of all abilities. It offers year-round professional theatre for young audiences and classes in creative drama/acting, musical theatre, dance, and filmmaking for ages 1-18.