Beth Duda, director of education at Florida Studio Theatre, and Andrew Stevens. Photo by FST.

Andrew Stevens used the money he received from his Bar Mitzvah towards another mitzvah for the Florida Studio Theatre. Stevens is enrolled in the Education program at Florida Studio Theatre, and decided to give back. After he celebrated his Bar Mitzvah he took the money he received and donated to the Florida Studio Theatre as part of their campaign to renovate their Gompertz Theatre. And because he donated through the Community Foundation of Sarasota, his contribution was matched.

Florida Studio Theatre:
Student gives Bar Mitzvah money to The Gompertz Campaign

Andrew Stevens, an eighth grader in the Education program at Florida Studio Theatre, chose to give money received at his Bar Mitzvah to The Gompertz Campaign. Stevens has been an active participant in the FST Education program since Summer of 2009 and will continue in the Teen Education program this year.

Stevens decided to donate the money through the Community Foundation of Sarasota, where the funds would be matched by the Georgia Court Fund for FST. His mother, Jocelyn Stevens, is the director of development and donor relations at the Community Foundation of Sarasota. FST held a check presentation ceremony for Andrew where he presented his gift to the Gompertz Campaign in front of fellow students and staff members.

The Georgia Court Funds through the Community Foundation were established as Court saw a need for renovation due to handicap accessibility, both in the theatre space and in the restrooms. When the idea was presented to her for creating a matching gifts fund she said, “It seemed a logical way to give money and help FST really get to the dollar amount it needed.” Court has been a subscriber of FST since 2010 and is currently a board member. On donating to the project Court said, “Certainly working through the Community Foundation, with donor advised or matching funds, is a good way to put your money to work more efficiently.”