Tulsa Ballet receives Community Collaboration Award from the Mental Health Association in Tulsa

On Thursday evening, November 5, I had the honor of attending the Mental Health Association in Tulsa's 2009 Annual Awards Celebration along with Tulsa Ballet's current board President, Jackie Kouri. The event was held at the Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital Conference Center in Tulsa. Tulsa Ballet was one of 25 recipients who were honored with the Community Collaboration Award, given to local organizations that partner with the Mental Health Assoc. on a regular basis to help fulfill its mission of: promoting mental health, preventing mental disorders and achieving victory over mental illnesses through advocacy, education, research, service and housing. Tulsa Ballet works with the Mental Association through our Hope For the Holidays program and Partners in Art.

In case you aren't familiar with these programs, Hope For the Holidays is an annual event that provides complimentary tickets to over 2,000 social service clients, allowing them the chance to experience Tulsa Ballet's annual production of The Nutcracker. It's an evening in which over 40 community agencies are able to experience the magic of the holidays through the arts, thanks to the support of several local sponsors and individuals. The Mental Health Association in Tulsa is one of the groups that regularly attends. The other program that Tulsa Ballet offers, Partners in Art, allows area social service clients the opportunity to watch the final dress rehearsal of a Tulsa Ballet production at no cost, thanks again to the support of local foundations, corporations and individuals.

Thank you to the Mental Health Association in Tulsa for recognizing Tulsa Ballet as one of your community partners. We are honored to receive one of the 2009 Community Collaboration Awards.