MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

APRIL 7, 2008

Contact:

Daniel Adolphson

Campaign Director

651-292-3215

dan@compas.org

United Arts Workplace Giving Campaign Exceeds Goal;

Changing Lives Award Recipients Announced

(SAINT PAUL, MN) – United Arts (a program of COMPAS) raised $279,000 through its 2007 Workplace Campaign, surpassing its $240,000 goal by $39,000. This represents one of the largest increases in the campaign since 2004.

Founded in 1954, United Arts raises dollars that benefit approximately 30 Twin Cities arts organization each year. These dollars are awarded via a competitive grant application process, with awards ranging from $1,000 to $15,000. The grants help ensure quality arts education in schools and sustain important community-building arts programs.

“We are so grateful to the more than 37 employers, and over 2,000 employees who opened the doors of the workplace to our message, and who dug into their own pockets to bring the arts to people in the 12-county metro area. One of the key factors in the success of this year’s campaign was helping donors see that we are funding life-change through the arts,” said Campaign Director Daniel Adolphson. “Whether it’s taking the arts to forgotten members of our society, increasing test scores through direct curriculum involvement in schools, or bringing communities together through the arts, our work is not about frills or add-ons. It’s about changing lives through the arts.

Also announced today are the inaugural recipients of the Changing Lives Award. This award recognizes excellence within workplace campaigns in both the public and private sector. The 8 recipients are: ADC Telecommunications; City of Minneapolis; Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.; Pohlad-owned Companies; Ramsey County; State of Minnesota Combined Charities Campaign; Travelers Insurance, and University of Minnesota Community Fund Drive.