Canton鈥檚 Bluecoats announced this week a $1.75 million capital campaign that will fund a new education center for its partner organization EN-RICH-MENT. The facility will take over the former Ziegler Tire building in Downtown Canton, which will be renovated and expanded to accommodate arts education classes and administrative spaces.
EN-RICH-MENT was founded in 2012 to provide free performing arts and life skills programs for underserved youth.鈥疶he organization has become known around the Stark County area, especially for its drumline.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e an organization that we鈥檝e always had a friendship with in some way or another,鈥� said Mike Scott, CEO of the Bluecoats, the award-winning drum and bugle corps based in Canton. 鈥淥ver the years, that鈥檚 been a relationship of sharing resources, ideas and communication.鈥�
EN-RICH-MENT, now an affiliate organization of Bluecoats, has expanded in the years since its founding and outgrew a previous space. Its current location is slated to be torn down in the next year.
鈥淭hey were going to be without a home, and we really wanted to step in because EN-RICH-MENT is relatively small in their structure and stature,鈥� Scott said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely an organization where they raise every dollar they can and spend every dollar they can on the kids.鈥�
Scott said that the resources Bluecoats can provide will help ensure EN-RICH-MENT鈥檚 future.
When Ziegler Tire moved out of its location on the corner of Ninth Street and Market Avenue, it created an opportunity, Scott said. The property is owned by ArtsinStark, and the new education building for EN-RICH-MENT will also be on the site of the Cultural Center for the Arts.
鈥淭his allows us to ensure that these kids aren鈥檛 just going anywhere, they鈥檙e going to the headquarters of arts and culture in the county,鈥� Scott said.
He said about $1 million of the $1.75 million has been secured through foundations and philanthropic support around Canton and Northeast Ohio.
鈥淭here was an immense groundswell of support,鈥� Scott said. 鈥淎nd we said, 鈥極kay, we鈥檝e got what we need here to make something happen.鈥欌��
