Explanation
The Harmony Project is a non-profit organization created to connect communities across social divides through art, education, and volunteerism. The organization provides opportunities for individuals of different cultures, religions, ages, affiliations, and orientations to work together, with the intention of fostering a stronger, more inclusive community.
The Harmony Project shares its name and purpose with its 220-plus member choir (and additional 300+ voices in afterschool, shelter, and prison programs) which blends diversity, philanthropy and music. The arts programs are open to anyone, and have attracted diverse participants from throughout central Ohio. Since its founding, 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 500+ bicycles for children and teens of Franklin County Children Services, adopted families through Center for Healthy Families and answered wish lists, cleaned Livingston Avenue, created public art murals on the South Side and in Franklinton, built teen study stations for Boys and Girls Club in Franklinton, planted 500+ trees, and was awarded the Greater Columbus Arts Council’s Artistic Excellence Award for its One Neighborhood Project.
Partnerships already in place include The Columbus Foundation, AEP, Huntington Bank, Fifth Third Bank, LBrands, and several private foundations. 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 a compiled annual report.
FISCAL IMPACT: Sufficient funds are available in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund and the Recreation and Parks Operation and Extension fund.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with The Harmony Project for the purpose of providing programing for at-risk youth; to authorize the appropriation of $25,000.00 in the general fund, Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to authorize an expenditure of $25,000.00 from the general fund, Neighborhood Initiatives subfund and $25,000.00 from the Recreation and Parks Operation and Extension fund. ($50,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, The Harmony Project is a non-profit organization created to connect communities across social divides through art, education, and volunteerism that provides opportunities for individuals of different cultures, religions, ages, affiliations, and orientations to work together, with the intention of fostering a stronger, more inclusive community, and;
WHEREAS, The Harmony Project shares its name and purpose with its 220-plus member choir (and additional 300+ voices in afterschool, shelter, and prison programs) 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, City Council established the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund in order to provide funding for a myriad of programs that include further emphasizing 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, the Department of Recreation and Parks desires to enter into contract with The Harmony Project in the amount of $50,000 in order to assist it in leveraging additional financial contributions from the private sector; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Recreation and Parks to authorize the Director to enter into said contract with The Harmony Project; 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 $25,000.00 in the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, to the Department of Recreation and Parks, in Object Class 03 - Contractual Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
See Attached File: Ord 0755-2016 Legislation Template.xls
SECTION 2. That the Director of the Department of Recreation and Parks is hereby authorized to enter into contract with The Harmony Project 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 in regards to the action authorized in Section 2 of this ordinance, the expenditure of $50,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary is hereby authorized per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
See Attached File: Ord 0755-2016 Legislation Template.xls
SECTION 4. That this contract is awarded pursuant to the relevant provisions of City Code Chapter 329 relating to not-for-profit service contracts.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.