Dear Ms. Powers,

Congratulations! Your work has been chosen for recognition as a 2007Coming Up Taller Semifinalist by the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities and its partner agencies, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Endowment for the Arts, and National Endowment for the Humanities. We are highly impressed with the successful work your organization and the other semifinalists have accomplished in youth after-school and out-of-school arts and humanities learning.

We reviewed more than 350 nominations from 46 states, the District of Columbia, and the US Virgin Islands. Your program’s selection as one of the 50 semi-finalists distinguishes it as one of the top arts and humanities based programs in the country serving youth beyond the school hours.

Your nomination is currently being reviewed for a Coming Up Taller award by a national jury composed of field experts. We expect to notify this year’s award recipients by the end of June. If your program is selected to receive a Coming Up Taller award, you will receive a plaque and a $10,000 award at a ceremony in the fall/winter. Your organization will also have the opportunity to participate in the fourth annual Coming Up Taller Leadership Enhancement Conference, August 8-10, 2007 in Washington D.C.

At this time, you may share your selection as a semifinalist with the media, your board, staff, and supporters. To recognize your selection as a semifinalist, you will receive Coming Up Taller Certificate of Excellence before the end of the year. Your program and organization also will be listed in this year’s Coming Up Taller awards national publication and in the press kit announcing the award recipients.

We value your important work and thank your for your organization’s time, energy, and expertise devoted to our young Americans. Best wishes for your continued success.

Signed by
Henry Moran, President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, and Dana Gioia, National Endowment for the Arts, and Anne-Imelda M. Radice, Institute of Museum and Library Services, and Bruce Cole, National Endowment for the Humanities