Mitchell Clayton, Dumas, Texas, U.S.
Five-year-old Mitchell Clayton donated some of his playthings to a local museum so it could start a children's center, and now he is saving money to expand the toy selection.

Allison Hill, San Diego, California, U.S.
At age 17, Allison Hill was given a children's dance studio, which she now runs as a performing arts center for disadvantaged children.

Jordan Schwartz, Marietta, Georgia, U.S.
Twelve-year-old Jordan Schwartz of Marietta, GA, formed a bilingual theater group for children who are learning English or Spanish. She recently added the 2005 Prudential Spirit of Community Award to her growing list of awards and recognition for her community service.

ChaDawn Parker, Chicago, U.S.
ChaDawn Parker, a 21-year-old percussionist and music major, formed a drumline with eight inner-city children from his father's small church in Chicago's West Side. Four years later, the drumline has more than tripled in size and has been invited to play at events throughout the city and the Great Lakes region.

Arts Stories from Adults
Here you can read stories about adults who work or volunteer in community youth service.

Elissa Taylor, of Clearwater, Florida, U.S.
Elissa Taylor, 35, works as the booking manager for the Eckerd Theater Company and as an instructor for the Marcia P. Hoffman Performing Arts Institute, both of which are based in Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, FL. Elissa helped the youth enrolled at the Institute to put on a benefit concert to raise money for a school in Biloxi, MS, one of the cities affected by Hurricane Katrina.

David Gaby, 50, of Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
In response to demand for positive youth activities in his neighborhood, David Gaby, organized a summer program in which the neighborhood children and teens learned about their area's history and architecture.

Monica S. Floyd, 32, of Christiana, Tennessee, U.S.
Monica Floyd works two jobs as a respite consultant and case manager. Yet she manages to find time to volunteer as a drama teacher in the visual and performing arts program that she founded for children and youth.

Ernestine Volcy, 35, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
In her spare time, certified nursing assistant Ernestine Volcy, writes and produces plays performed by youth living in shelters and transitional housing.

John C. Williams, 40, of Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
John C. Williams heads a teen filmmaking program in which the students create documentaries about their own lives, some of which have won awards and have been broadcast on several networks. Additionally, each student is mentored by a professional filmmaker.

Wesley Fagan, 38, of Clarksville, Tennessee, U.S.
After his day job of training MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew members, Wesley Fagan spends some of his evenings and weekends raising money, building props and hauling equipment so the young musicians of Kenwood High school's marching band can have opportunities to perform at competitions and away games.

Famous Philanthropists Who Give to the Arts

Robin Williams
The actor and comic supports numerous social causes. Efforts include performing in Comic Relief to raise money for the homeless, and starting the Windfall Foundation with his wife, Marsha, to support arts, education, and social services.

Michael Bloomberg
The mayor of New York City and founder of Bloomberg L.P., a global financial news service, also is one of the country's most generous philanthropists, giving millions to arts, education, health care, and social services.