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| Jim and Linda Mitchell |
Every landmark building needs a foundation...
…a source of strength that helps shoulder the burden
...and a base of support upon which the structure can rest.
Meet Jim and Linda Mitchell
When you consider the people who have supported you along your path from trials to successes, chances are you may think of your parents. Jim and Linda Mitchell certainly do:
“Neither Jim nor I came from wealthy homes. Our parents worked very hard to provide for us. We learned from our parents the work ethic that we used to give us the means to be able to help others.”
Having long been active supporters of both Roosevelt University and the Auditorium Theatre, Jim and Linda also recognize that the youth in our Hands Together, Heart to Art performing arts summer camp may not be able to say the same thing.
That’s because, as you likely know, our campers are children age 7-14 who are grieving the death of one or both of their parents. Every year and over the course of each camp session, these hurting children find others their own age who are going through a similar experience. And, with guidance from our Teaching Artists and Certified Counselors, they use music, dance, theater and creative play to face their grief, express themselves and, ultimately, to heal.
Hands Together, Heart to Art camp was created by the Auditorium in 2004 and started as a special project driven by Brett Batterson, who served as our Executive Director until late 2015. Jim and Linda share why this camp is meaningful to them:
We appreciate the fact that the Auditorium has taken this program very seriously and has added this to their agenda, besides entertainment. We really feel that family is very important for everyone to have and is the basis for a strong beginning for children and their outlook on life. We also have a philosophy of- If you are blessed with something that someone else is in need of, you have the responsibility to share that blessing.
And so, with a major gift that they made in late 2015, these dear friends have established the Linda and James J. Mitchell Endowment at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University to support Hands Together, Heart to Art. Their selfless generosity makes a significant impact on the stability of the program, which depends entirely on awards from granting agencies and donations from many compassionate individuals.
Jim and Linda, please know that there are many people who would want to join us in expressing our gratitude. Your friendship to the Auditorium and to Hands Together, Heart to Art is deeply encouraging, not only to the staff and other supporters of our camp, but also for our camp youth because it shows them that there are people who are pulling for them to find the healing they deserve. Thank you.
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Learn more about The Mitchells and their philosophy of sharing what you have in abundance when you attend an Auditorium Theatre presentation this spring. Their story is also featured as a Donor Spotlight article in our program books through June 2016.
In each issue of “The Curtain Speech,” we acknowledge the particular efforts of an individual, corporation or foundation whose recent support has been especially encouraging. We want to share these stories with you because their selfless generosity is instrumental in helping our National Historic Landmark persevere, prosper, and grow.
The Auditorium Theatre is incredibly grateful for the kindness of these compassionate people. These are friends just like you. These are our cornerstones.
