Questlove & Black Thought Return To Philly To Launch The CAPA Foundation At Their Alma Mater The Philadelphia High School For Creative And Performing Arts.
Questlove and Black Thought of The Roots returned to Philly today to join the CAPA Home and School Association and fellow alumni in launching the CAPA Foundation for the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts. The independent, nonprofit organization has been established to address the financial needs of the school - a celebrated proving ground for the city's brightest artistic talents - which have increased in recent years as the School District of Philadelphia has levied budget cuts, forced mergers and shuttered schools across the city. The foundation aims to raise $500,000 annually over the next five years. The annual fundraising goal will increase to $1 million in coming years. CAPA Principal Joanne Beaver remarked on the foundation's importance to the school's legacy and bottom line in conversation with the Philadelphia Daily News:
"This effort's goal is to bring things back as close to what they once were" at the school, Beaver said, citing the financial cuts CAPA has experienced over the years.The money raised through the foundation, for example, would go toward the annual CAPA musical, reinstate programs, renovate the school's theater - the list could go on, she said. And, hopefully, restore a position or two at the school.
"This has the potential to be able to do all those things that are needed to make CAPA an amazing place," she said. "Well, it's already amazing, but there's just a lot of things we can't do."
The news comes as a boon to members of the CAPA band, who not only benefit from the formation of the CAPA Foundation but have also been promised a slot on the Questlove Stage at the WaWa Welcome America! Festival. Hopefully this move by The Roots will encourage the school's rich community of alumni and friends to help the CAPA Foundation exceed the $500,000 fundraising goal in its first year. Check the footage below for a bit of throwback CAPA flavor. Learn more about the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing arts via capaavenueofthearts.org.
Spotted at PDN.
