KATHLEEN MONAHAN FOUNDATION, INC.
TARPON SPRINGS, FLORIDA

The Kathleen Monahan Foundation provides supplemental funding and enhancements to Tarpon Arts, the arts department of the City of Tarpon Springs, Florida. The Foundation supports artistic, professional and enjoyable arts and arts education opportunities for the greater Tarpon Springs area. Foundation income is used to enable high quality arts programs to grow, by helping to fund capital projects and performing arts activities that will increase the ability of people from all cultural and economic backgrounds to experience the joy and wonder the arts bring to our lives. Mission The mission of the Kathleen Monahan Foundation is to enhance the quality of people’s lives by promoting and supporting the City of Tarpon Springs performing arts programs. The Kathleen Monahan Foundation is the brainchild of Brent Wadsworth, the founder and CEO of Wadsworth Golf Construction Company. The Wadsworth Family’s decision to establish a foundation that would help support Tarpon Arts, the City of Tarpon Springs arts program, is just one of many examples of the family’s philanthropy and dedication to excellence in local community arts. The donation of a 9-foot concert grand Baldwin piano is one of the first instances of the family’s commitment to supporting superior performing arts experiences in Tarpon Springs. A number of years ago, Mr. Wadsworth proposed that he would make a significant donation to a foundation that had as its mission to financially assist the Tarpon Arts program in providing artistic, professional, and enjoyable arts opportunities for the greater Tarpon Springs, Florida area. The one stipulation was that the foundation be named for the City’s Cultural and Civic Services Director, Kathleen Monahan, as a tribute to her role in working with the City to help revitalize the community through the arts, making it a recognized arts and cultural destination. The Kathleen Monahan Foundation became a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation on December 12, 2012. Where We Are Now Since its inception, the Foundation has held annual and biannual fundraising events featuring nationally and internationally acclaimed performing artists. Each year the Foundation provides funds to the Tarpon Arts program to enable underserved children and adults to attend and participate in performing arts events. These include Cirque Zuma Zuma, the Hot 8 Jazz Band, and the Walnut Street Theatre production of . In addition, the foundation successfully spearheaded the campaign to renovate and upgrade the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, which included a much needed renovation and upgrading of the 295-seat Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center. The City is requesting $1 million from the State Legislature for 2015. If received, these funds will still not cover all the lighting, sound, and construction work needed to support the excellence in live performance that our patrons have come to expect. In 2017, the foundation provided a grant for renovation of the Performing Arts Center lobby, greatly enhancing the patrons experience prior to, during, and following performances. The Kathleen Monahan Foundation supports the mission of the In my own philanthropy and business endeavors, I have seen the critical role the arts play in stimulating creativity and in developing vital communities… the arts have a crucial impact on our economy and are an important catalyst for learning, discovery, and achievement in our country. –Paul G. Allen, Co-founder, Microsoft In my own philanthropy and business endeavors, I have seen the critical role the arts play in stimulating creativity and in developing vital communities… the arts have a crucial impact on our economy and are an important catalyst for learning, discovery, and achievement in our country. –Paul G. Allen, Co-founder, Microsoft In my own philanthropy and business endeavors, I have seen the critical role the arts play in stimulating creativity and in developing vital communities… the arts have a crucial impact on our economy and are an important catalyst for learning, discovery, and achievement in our country. –Paul G. Allen, Co-founder, Microsoft