What does 50 cents actually

buy these days? Two thin packs of Juicy Fruit gum or 10 pieces of Bazooka

Joe gum, or if you're not into gum, it buys two oatmeal cookies or

two swiss cake rolls from Little Debbie.

Fifty cents is also what is

allocated to fine arts students in Fayette County this year, due to a

two-thirds reduction in the funding for fine arts programs in local schools.

The Endowment Committee for the Cultural Arts of Fayette County is trying

to help. ECCA President Sandra Jungers announced that the Board of Directors

voted unanimously to increase substantially the organizations support

of the visual and performing arts education programs in the county high

schools.

The ECCA was formed in 1984

and its initial goals were to raise money for a piano for the McIntosh

Chorus, a community music ensemble, and to financially support the new

Peachtree City Library. Since then, they have provided grants and scholarships

totaling more than $284,600 to Fayette County arts programs, including

$68,000 to the Fayette County School System in support of their arts programs

and $32,100 in annual scholarships to Fayette County students. The ECCA

raises money for these causes through a number of fundraisers, chief among

them being the annual Valentine Ball.

"It's the social

event of the season," stated ball chairperson Suzanne Heil. "The

Valentine Ball is the major fund raising event we sponsor annually and

raises much needed funding that this year will directly benefit the Fine

Arts Departments at our five Fayette County high schools." The ECCA

hopes to donate between $8-12,000 this year.

Other fundraisers scheduled

for this year include a membership party and spring bash April 16 at the

Hollingsworth House and a large, community wide project scheduled for

the fall, the details of which can't be disclosed as of yet. The

ECCA is also seeking to increase awareness of the club and one of the

ways they will do this is with a bus trip to the Springer Opera House

to see "Ragtime" March 13. Tickets will be $40 per person.

Andre DeLorenzo, education

coordinator of the ECCA and member of their Board of Directors, sees the

ECCA as an assistance program, providing grants for specific requests

from fine arts departments in the community and the schools. "We

aren't supposed to be a resource," said DeLorenzo. "We

are supposed to provide assistance."

Now in its 20th year, the ECCA

is seeking to make a larger presence in the community. In addition to

helping the schools, they will be making an initial donation of $25,000

to the Fayette Family Aquatic, Arts and Humanities Center, which will

be built across from Cleveland Elementary School and will provide the

community with a first class 450 seat theater space and an indoor/outdoor

aquatic center. The ECCA will also co-sponsor Offshoot Productions'

Shakespeare in the Park production of "The Comedy of Errors"

at Villages Amphitheater in June. There is also discussion of a juried

visual arts show and sale for the five county high schools and a combined

high school production this summer.

The ECCA Valentine Ball will

take place Feb. 7 at the Wyndham Executive Conference Center. The evening

will begin with a social hour at 7 p.m., followed by dinner and dancing

at 8:15 p.m. Music for the evening will be provided by Class Act, and

a live and silent auction will follow the dinner. The Starr's Mill

Show Choir will also be performing at the ball, giving the community a

chance to see the talent and the types of programs that are in the local

schools. Tickets are $85 for ECCA members and $100 for non-members. Tickets

can be purchased through the ball's chairperson, Heil, by calling

770-487-8508.

Memberships are also available

ranging from $50 for seniors or singles to $1,700 for corporate sponsorships.

For a membership application, e-mail to [email protected].

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