The Orlando Family Stage has received a significant boost for its centennial celebration, thanks to a generous donation of $500,000 from Dr. Phillips Charities. This funding, disbursed over two years, will support literacy-focused programs and performances aimed at students in Orange and Osceola counties. Among the highlights of this initiative is the inaugural Florida Children’s Book Festival, scheduled for February 20-22, 2025.
Dr. Phillips Charities has a long-standing partnership with the Orlando Family Stage, which dates back to 1965 when the organization, then known as the Central Florida Civic Theatre, received its first grant. Over the past six decades, Dr. Phillips Charities has awarded a total of 44 grants, amounting to nearly $880,000, to support the theater’s mission.
“Our support of Orlando Family Stage reflects a longstanding belief in the transformative power of the arts for children and families,” said Ken Robinson, president and CEO of Dr. Phillips Charities. He emphasized the importance of investing in programs that promote literacy, creativity, and inclusion, particularly as the theater marks its centenary.
In preparation for its 100th anniversary, the Orlando Family Stage plans to enhance its student-centered programming. This includes new curriculum resources aimed at fostering literacy development, expanded in-school residencies, and performances tied to literature accessible to children.
The Florida Children’s Book Festival will play a crucial role in this initiative, featuring interactive experiences with authors and live performances designed to engage young audiences. According to Chris Brown, executive director of Orlando Family Stage, “As we honor 100 years of empowering young people, our centennial celebration and inaugural Florida Children’s Book Festival are more than two significant milestones — they are catalysts for our next century.”
A key aspect of the theater’s outreach is the No Empty Seat initiative, which aims to provide free access to live theater for children and families who cannot afford tickets. The funding from Dr. Phillips Charities will allow over 2,000 students and their families to attend productions during the centennial celebration at no cost.
Dr. Phillips Charities utilizes earnings from its investments and real estate income to support numerous nonprofits in Central Florida, having contributed over $261 million in grants and program-related investments to local organizations.
For the past 25 years, Orlando Family Stage has focused exclusively on serving students and their families, making it the only professional theater in Florida with this mission. It ranks among the ten largest professional children’s theaters in the United States.
“With the support of Dr. Phillips Charities, we aren’t just celebrating our history,” Brown noted. “We are positioning Orlando Family Stage as a national leader in theater for young audiences.”