Charlotte Cushman Foundation facts for kids
| Predecessor | Charlotte Cushman Club Library and Museum (1907-1999) |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2000 |
| Founder | Lydia Ellicott Morris (1907) |
| Purpose | To promote theater arts in the Philadelphia area with grants to performers in productions by non-profit theaters. |
| Headquarters | 320 South Broad Street, Room 120, Philadelphia, Pa, 19102 |
| Location |
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Revenue (2017)
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$36,937 |
| Expenses (2017) | $81,510 |
| Website | The Charlotte Cushman Foundation |
The Charlotte Cushman Foundation (CCF) is a special group in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It helps promote theater arts in the area. The foundation gives money to performers in plays put on by non-profit theaters.
It is named after a famous actress, Charlotte Cushman (1817-1876). The CCF was started by the people who ran the Charlotte Cushman Club and Library. This club was open from 1907 to 1999. It was a safe and affordable place for actresses to stay when they were traveling.
Since 1957, the club and later the foundation have given out special awards. These awards honor people who have made a big difference in theater. One award, the Charlotte Cushman Award for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Play, is still given out today as part of Philadelphia's Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theater.
Contents
History of the Foundation
The Charlotte Cushman Club
The Charlotte Cushman Club began as a place for touring actresses to live. Back then, many hotels were not welcoming to women performers. The club offered a safe, respectful, and inexpensive place to stay. In 1923, it was called "the leading organization of its kind in the country." Similar clubs were also started in Chicago and Boston.
Lydia Ellicott Morris, a Quaker, founded the club in 1907. She named it after Charlotte Cushman (1816-1876). Charlotte Cushman was America's first internationally famous actress. She had always dreamed of creating safe places for women in theater. Even though the club was named after her, Charlotte Cushman herself did not start or fund it, as she had passed away years before.
The club received support from many people and groups. An early supporter, Mr. Peterson, donated $50,000. Annual teas and help from the Theatrical Managers Association and women's clubs also raised money. The Cushman Club became a successful place for both men and women who loved theater.
Over the years, the club moved to different locations in Philadelphia. It was at 10th and Pine, then 12th and Locust Streets. In 1920, it moved to 1010 Spruce Street. This location could house 50 actresses and often had a waiting list. Later, parts of the club moved to The Bellevue-Stratford Hotel. In 1963, the club found its final home at 239 S. Camac Street.
Cushman Awards for Theater
The Cushman Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre started in 1957. It honored people who greatly helped the theater world. Famous winners included Shirley Booth, Richard Burton, Helen Hayes, and Katharine Hepburn. Many of these stars visited the club for parties after their shows.
Since 1995, the Charlotte Cushman Award for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Play has been given out. This award is part of the Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theater ceremony in Philadelphia. Zoe Caldwell was the first to win this award for her role in Master Class.
The Club Closes and Changes
On June 3, 1999, the Charlotte Cushman Club's board decided to close it. The club had "outlived its original residential and educational purposes." The board chose to change its goal to better support different theater programs.
The club building on Camac Street was sold in 2001. It has since been restored. A special agreement protects its outside and some inside parts. The Eleanor Wescott Library, which had rare theater items and books, was part of the club. This collection included portraits, a marble bust of Charlotte Cushman, and two toy theaters. Many items from the collection were given to places like the University of Pennsylvania and the Free Library. Other items, like Fanny Brice's grand piano, were sold. A special Cushman Club Conference Room was set up at the University of the Arts. Club memories are shown there and in the department's lobby. The club's old records are kept at the University of Pennsylvania Van Pelt Library.
Charlotte Cushman Foundation Today
The Charlotte Cushman Foundation was started in 2000. It was created by the same people who ran the Charlotte Cushman Club. Money from selling the club building and its items, plus existing funds, helped the foundation begin giving grants. By 2014, the foundation had given out almost $600,000 in grants.
All the people who manage the CCF are women, just like the officers of the old Cushman Club. Two former club officers, Cirel Magen and Audrey Walters, are still active as CCF Trustees. The foundation's mailing address is 320 South Broad Street, Room 120, Philadelphia, Pa, 19102.
Foundation Finances
In 2017, the Charlotte Cushman Foundation had assets worth $567,031.
How the Foundation Gets and Spends Money
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The foundation's income in 2017 was $36,937. Most of this money came from investments. |
Revenue and support as of 2017: $36,937 Dividends, interest from securities (53.1%) Other income (46.86%) temporary cash investments (0.04%) |
The foundation's expenses in 2017 were $81,510. Most of this money went to grants for theater groups. Expenses as of 2017: $81,510 Contributions, gifts, grants (80.5%) Other expenses (17.2%) Accounting fees (2.3%) |
