City of Columbus - File #: 1390-2010

• File #: 1390-2010
• Version: 2
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Passed
• File created: 9/21/2010
• In control: Administration Committee
• On agenda: 9/27/2010
• Final action: 9/29/2010
• 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 expenditure of $25,000.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($25,000.00)

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
9/29/2010	2	MAYOR	Signed
9/29/2010	2	CITY CLERK	Attest
9/27/2010	1	Columbus City Council	Amended as submitted to the Clerk	Pass
9/27/2010	2	Columbus City Council	Approved as Amended	Pass
9/27/2010	2	COUNCIL PRESIDENT	Signed
9/22/2010	1	Council Drafter	Sent for Approval
9/22/2010	1	Auditor Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
9/22/2010	1	CITY AUDITOR	Reviewed and Approved
9/22/2010	1	Council Drafter	Sent for Approval
9/22/2010	1	COUNCIL PRESIDENT (approver)	Reviewed and Approved
9/22/2010	1	Council Drafter	Sent for Approval
9/22/2010	1	CITY ATTORNEY	Reviewed and Approved
9/22/2010	1	Council Drafter	Sent to Clerk's Office for Council

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, raised $47,000.00 - including $17,000.00 to cover staff and supplies for an academic enrichment and fitness program at Champion Middle School, and painted and landscaped Blackburn Recreation Center. The Harmony Project also raised $15,000.00 to purchase a grand piano for the Lincoln Theatre, $10,000.00 to buy trees for the City of Columbus Department of Recreation & Parks, $40,000.00 for the Mid-Ohio Foodbank, and collected thousands of toys for the Salvation Army's Toys for Tots program.
The Harmony Project has launched a new initiative - Project Hope - designed to build bridges between underserved children in Columbus who lack music resources in their schools and communities with children who are the beneficiaries of schools and community-funded arts programs for the purposes of interaction, education, and personal growth. Targeted areas for Project Hope are Southside Settlement House, Central Neighborhood Community House, Neighborhood House and Gladden Community House. The program will promote positive child development through weekly music lessons, convers...