United Arts Honors Goodmons For Support
“The arts are the soul of a nation. They are also a culture’s reflection of itself.”
–Wendy Wasserstein
Capitol Broadcasting Company President & CEO Jim Goodmon and his wife, Barbara, were honored for their long-time backing of the arts at the United Arts Council of Raleigh & Wake County’s annual Business Support of the Arts Awards & Luncheon on Friday, February 15, 2002. WRAL-TV Anchor David Crabtree emceed the noon event at the Cary Embassy Suites.
CBC’s Barbara Goodmon accepted the Paladin Achievement award at the United Arts annual luncheon. |
The Goodmons received the Paladin Achievement Award, the UA’s highest award, honoring long-term arts advocacy and support. Barbara Goodmon accepted the award on behalf of the two saying, “The arts are very much an indicator of community health. They are very healing.” She stated that she and Goodmon have actively supported the arts for many years for that reason.
Barbara Goodmon also challenged the group to expand the work of the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County to the Triangle saying, “What we’re doing now can be more with partnerships.” She cited the Festival Rodin, a Triangle-wide effort in 2000, as an example of what can be accomplished when all corners of the Triangle work together.
Harvey Schmitt, President & CEO of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, echoed Goodmon’s sentiment earlier in the program saying, “arts cannot run on applause & appreciation alone.”
Ben Cameron, Executive Director for Theatre Communications Group, delivered a dynamic keynote address at the luncheon. He challenged the audience to be arts activists, citing that we “owe [much of what is around us] to artists…who began to hone their skills…long ago as children.” He said that students involved in the arts are four times more likely to win academic awards, score 80 points higher on verbal and math skills and have less disciplinary problems.
WRAL-TV Anchor David Crabtree told of his first experience hearing the Symphony in the 5th grade. |
Other award winners at the afternoon event included ABB Inc. and Clancy & Theys Construction Company (Large Business), Martha Zaytoun (Individual), Ilse Mann (Arts Education), and Brad & Kenna Phillips (Campaign Ambassadors of the Year). The Council created a new award this year, Special Friends of the Council, to present to both the Wake County Government and the Wake County Public School System.
The annual event serves to kick-off the annual United Arts fundraising campaign. The UA seeks to raise $800,000 from the private sector in 2002. One-third of that total will come through workplace campaigns.
CBC is a Gold Partner of the United Arts of Raleigh & Wake County. CBC won the large business award at a similar luncheon in 1995. The A.J. Fletcher Foundation received the Foundation Award and CBC retiree Ben Waters and his wife, Martha, received the Campaign Ambassadors of the Year in 2001.
