Explanation
The Harmony Project is a non-profit organization committed to diversity, philanthropy, community service, the environment, and the celebration of the human spirit through the performing arts. In 2008 and 2009, the organization was selected by the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities as one of the best arts-based non-profits in the nation.
The Harmony Project shares its name and purpose with its 135-plus member choir which blends diversity, philanthropy and music. The choir is open to anyone, and has attracted diverse participants from throughout central Ohio. Through two performance seasons, The Harmony Project has been successful in meeting its mission and has made exceptional contributions to the Columbus community through hands-on volunteerism, and through charitable fundraising. Among these contributions, The Harmony Project, through performances and fundraising efforts, cleaned and refurbished Blackburn Recreation Center for After-School All-Stars, cleaned and mulched beds and playgrounds for Beatty Recreation Center, collected 4000+ toys and gift cards for children and teens in Central Ohio, collected 100+ bicycles for children and teens of Franklin County Children Services, adopted families through Center for Healthy Families and answered wish lists, and provided 300 hours of service to Mid-Ohio Foodbank.
The Harmony Project is proposing a series of re-beautification projects called "One Week, One Neighborhood" that will include Old Town East, Franklinton, and a return to Livingston Avenue between Parsons Road and Nelson Road. The project will feature educational, service, and artistic components. Funding sought from Columbus City Council is for educational and service components. The goals and objectives of this project are to meet identified and unmet needs of underserved neighborhoods by mobilizing thousands of volunteers to serve their Columbus Community.
Partnerships already in place include Nationwide Children's Hospital and the Jewish Community Center in Bexley. The Harmony Project has also been funded through the financial support of generous corporate sponsors, including Limited Brands, Wal-Mart, and The Dispatch Printing Company. Additionally, ticket sales for performances, and the individual fundraising efforts of choir members, comprise a significant portion of the total dollars raised by the organization. The Harmony Project is seeking additional financial support from the City of Columbus to assist in leveraging additional financial contributions from the private sector. Expenditures will be detailed in an audited, annual report.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance is contigent upon the passage of the 2014 Operating Budget Ordinance 2730-2013.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk and the Recreation and Parks Director to enter into contract with The Harmony Project for the purpose of targeting at-risk youth by providing positive youth development through year-round music lessons and to authorize the Department of Recreation and Parks to monitor the contract; and to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $200,000.00 in the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($200,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, The Harmony Project is a non-profit organization committed to diversity, philanthropy, community service, the environment, and the celebration of the human spirit through the performing arts. In 2008 and 2009, the organization was selected by the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities as one of the best arts-based non-profits in the nation; and
WHEREAS, The Harmony Project shares its name and purpose with its 135-plus member choir which blends diversity, philanthropy and music. The choir is open to anyone, and has attracted diverse participants from throughout central Ohio. Through two performance seasons, The Harmony Project has been successful in meeting its mission and has made exceptional contributions to the Columbus community through hands-on volunteerism, and through charitable fundraising; and
WHEREAS, The Harmony Project will enter into contract with the City Clerk in the amount of $200,000.00; and
WHEREAS, City Council amended the 2014 budget to further emphasize the importance of targeting at risk youth for the purpose of promoting the healthy growth and development of children through the study, practice and performance of music, to build healthier communities by investing in the positive development of children through music, and to develop children as musical ambassadors of peace, hope and understanding amongst people of diverse cultures, backgrounds and beliefs; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in that it is immediately necessary to enter into said contract so funding is in place for said expenditures and programming can continue uninterrupted; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Auditor be and is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $200,000 in the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund, Fund 018, to City Council Department No. 20-01, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 200018.
SECTION 2. That City Council is hereby authorized to contract with The Harmony Project and directed to expend said funds in to promote the mission of targeting at-risk youth by promoting positive youth development through on-going year-round music lessons and youth orchestra participation.
SECTION 3. That this contract is awarded pursuant to Section 329.15 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959 as amended.
SECTION 4. That for the reason stated in the preamble here to, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same