Broward Students to Experience the Art of Norman Rockwell During BankAtlantic Day at the Museum of Art ׀ Fort Lauderdale
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – January 22, 2009 – BankAtlantic, Florida’s Most Convenient Bank and the BankAtlantic Foundation today announced that it will host BankAtlantic Day at the Museum of Art ׀ Fort Lauderdale for 687 elementary school students who will experience the work of 20th Century American artist and story-teller, Norman Rockwell.
Honoring its commitment to help introduce students to the arts, BankAtlantic has coordinated a series of field trips with local schools to attend various high-profile artistic events as part of its SmARTS program. The inaugural event will take place on January 25 and 27 at the Museum of Art where students from seven local schools will experience the highly anticipated exhibition, American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell. The exhibit features 42 original works, original war bond posters of Rockwell’s legendary, patriotic series The Four Freedoms, Seminal illustrations of the Civil Rights Movement, and all 323 of his Saturday Evening Post covers, all drawn from the permanent collection of the Norman Rockwell Museum. Students will also take away interactive materials, including a Rockwell Family Guide and a do-it-yourself Saturday Evening Post Cover, which can be submitted to the Museum for display on their website.
So far, 687 elementary students have signed up to attend the Norman Rockwell event on BankAtlantic Day at the museum. Students from Nob Hill Elementary, Coconut Creek Elementary, Lakeside Elementary and Lauderhill Paul Turner Elementary are scheduled to attend the event on Monday January 25th, and students from Lloyd Estates, Endeavor Primary Learning Center and Martin Luther King Elementary are scheduled to attend on Wednesday, January 27th. Students will be accompanied by teachers and chaperones.
“We are very excited to have this opportunity to invest in the academic lives of children and to preserve a part of the art of American history by providing this unique opportunity to these young, impressionable minds,” said Jarett Levan, CEO of BankAtlantic and Board member of Museum of Art. Funding, including the cost of transportation and admission into the exhibit, is provided with the assistance of a generous grant recently awarded to the BankAtlantic Foundation from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s Knight Arts Challenge. The Knight Arts Challenge is a five-year, $40 million initiative to bring South Florida together through the arts. The BankAtlantic Foundation was recently named one of 20 organizations from 1,562 applicants to receive a challenge grant.
“As part of the bank’s on-going SmARTS program, this is just one of the many events we will host in carrying out our commitment to enhance the artistic experience of students,” said Marcia Barry-Smith, Executive Director of the BankAtlantic Foundation.
About BankAtlantic Foundation:
Through the BankAtlantic Foundation, founded in 1994, BankAtlantic has helped support children in need, helped families obtain affordable housing, provided arts and cultural exposure to the broader community and is deeply committed to education. BankAtlantic is particularly proud of its employees who each year contribute thousands of volunteer hours to a wide scope of charitable causes in support of our community.
To learn more about BankAtlantic and the BankAtlantic Foundation, visit us at https://www.bankatlantic.com/BAFoundation
About BankAtlantic:
BankAtlantic, “Florida’s Most Convenient Bank”, is one of the largest financial institutions headquartered in Florida. Via its broad network of community branches, online banking division - BankAtlantic.com , and conveniently located ATMs, BankAtlantic provides a full line of personal, small business and commercial banking products and services. BankAtlantic is open 7 days a week with extended weekday hours, Free Online Banking & Bill Pay, a 7-Day Customer Service Center and Change Exchange coin counters.
BankAtlantic Bancorp (NYSE: BBX) is a bank holding company and the parent company of BankAtlantic.
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation advances journalism in the digital age and invests in the vitality of communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers. Knight Foundation focuses on projects that promote community engagement and lead to transformational change. For more, visit www.knightfoundation.org.
BankAtlantic, Florida’s Most Convenient Bank, Contact Info:
Media Relations:
Sharon Lyn
Telephone: 954-940-6383
Fax: 954-940-5320
Email: CorpComm@BankAtlanticBancorp.com
BankAtlantic Bancorp Investor Relations:
Leo Hinkley, Investor Relations Officer, SVP
Phone: 954-940-5300, Fax: 954-940-5320
Email: InvestorRelations@BankAtlanticBancorp.com
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