According to Americans for the Arts, young people who participate in the arts for at least three hours, three days a week for a year are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement, three times more likely to be elected to class office within their schools, and four times more likely to participate in a math and science fair. Oodles of research reveals just how important arts education is when it comes to developing young minds. Before I was born my mother was an art educator, so I'm particularly disappointed in how a lack of prioritization, the so-called No Child Left Behind law and other factors have driven the arts out of public schools.

The concept here is simple: School teachers have programs they want to implement that go beyond what their (usually disadvantaged) schools will support. Those teachers post 'proposals' to the DonorsChoose.org website and ask microphilanthropists for a few hundred dollars in direct project support. (Here's more on how it works.) So far the site has raised almost $16 million for projects that have served 800,000 kids.

Every day between now and Christmas I'll be posting on arts-related project from DonorsChoose.org. Most of them will require less than $500 to fully fund. DonorsChoose.org accepts microphilanthropic gifts of $10 and up. I hope MAN readers support worthy projects either as individuals or as a group. I'll list donors on Christmas Day. If you put a little group together, say the 'Springfield Art Museum curatorial department,' email me so that I know to list you as such.

Every donor thanked. Donation is tax-deductible.