Kennedy Center Receives $1M For Arts Education

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Newman's Own Foundation is giving $1 million to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to endow an arts education program for underserved communities nationwide.

The Kennedy Center announced the gift Tuesday from the late actor Paul Newman's Connecticut-based foundation. The gift was made in honor of A.E. Hotchner, who started the Newman's Own salad dressing and food company with Newman.

The funds will be invested as an endowment to support the center's Ensuring Arts for Any Given Child program. The Kennedy Center is currently working in 14 cities from Sacramento, Calif., to Baltimore to help schools partner with local arts organizations to expand arts programs for K-8 students.

Kennedy Center President Michael Kaiser says the gift will ensure a strong arts education program for students across the country.

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