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| Lindy Eubank (left), director of development, and Pat Lorimer (right), director of competition production/volunteer coordinator and special projects, receive a check for $25,000 from Sandra Tuomey (center), 2012-13 President of the Junior League Fort Worth, Inc. to underwrite the Cliburn Competition Gift Shop. |
The Cliburn was honored to receive a $25,000 grant from The Junior League of Fort Worth, Inc. to underwrite the Gift Shop for the Fourteenth Competition. We were also thrilled to learn that our request for volunteers for the competition was also awarded. Thirty-two active members of Junior League Fort Worth will staff various volunteer positions in the areas of the Cliburn Gift Shop, airport transportation, in-town transportation, welcome packets, front and back of house, Worthington Hospitality Suite, logistics coordination, and management of official guests.
The Cliburn Gift Shop, run by Junior League volunteers, offers an array of gift items, souvenirs, and classical music recordings, each carrying the Van Cliburn Foundation logo. The Cliburn Gift Shop will be located in the lobby of Bass Performance Hall for the duration of the competition, and will be open from approximately 1:00 to 10:00 p.m. daily. Both audience members and passersby have the opportunity to browse through the space.
As the Van Cliburn Foundation looks back on its 50-year history, we recall the extraordinary help of the Junior League of Fort Worth, that has been offering its volunteer network to provide substantial logistical support for the competitions since 1963. In 1963 the Junior League of Fort Worth awarded the Cliburn with the largest grant it had ever awarded to a single project. These funds provided sponsorship for the Second Cliburn Competition to be held in 1966 and since that time, the Junior League of Fort Worth has provided volunteers and funds for each successive competition.
The Junior League is committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. The purpose of the Junior League is exclusively educational and charitable, and it has provided grants and volunteers to the Cliburn throughout the Foundation's history. It provides opportunities for its members to fulfill their volunteer service requirements through placements in non-profit organizations. Many women who were originally introduced to the Cliburn through their Junior League placements continue to volunteer with the organization, and several Cliburn chairmen-Adelaide Fuller, Martha R. Hyder, Phyllis Tilley, Susan B. Tilley, Alann Bedford Sampson, and Carla Kemp Thompson-were members of the League.
Countless members of the League have given their time, skills, and resources throughout the years. This is a partnership that has stood the test of time. We are proud to recognize the Junior League as a partner in bringing outstanding classical music to Fort Worth and the world. The Cliburn salutes with our deep appreciation the Junior League of Fort Worth for its loyal and vivacious support.