2010 ArtsErie United Fund
You need the Arts. The Arts need You.
ArtsErie has conducted the ArtsErie United Fund, formerly the United Arts Fund Drive, since 1967. This annual appeal is an organized effort by ArtsErie, on behalf of its member organizations, to be the major annual appeal for the arts. This solicitation is directed to area businesses, governments, and foundations. Individuals are also solicited, both personally and through workplace giving.
The ArtsErie United Fund unites our members under the premise that we can better reach our common goal of ensuring that Erie County's arts and culture organizations continue to receive funding by uniting and working together.
Jim Dible, CEO and President of the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership, has been named as the Community Campaign Chair of the 2010 ArtsErie United Fund.
"I am proud and energized to be Community Campaign Chair because the need has never been greater. Dramatic funding cuts threaten our arts organizations. A vibrant arts community gives us all another reason to be proud of Erie. We need the arts. The arts need us," stated Dible.
Our goal for 2010 is $300,000. This year’s campaign focuses on the importance of art in our lives and states, “You need the Arts. The Arts need You.”
Annual allocation of the Annual Fund dollars is made through a competitive grant process for:
1) Programming Support Grants, which provides operating and programming support to Erie’s larger arts organizations
2) Project Grants, which funds smaller arts programs, projects or events.
Why support the ArtsErie United Fund?
Most communities provide public support for arts and culture. Public support engages audience members as participants in the arts and enables our arts organizations to cover essential programming and operational expenses.
The arts also provide the community with a wide variety of both professional and community-based arts programming.
Arts offerings enhance our quality of life, augment our tourist offerings, and provide significant economic benefit to the region. In 2006, that benefit was determined to be nearly $15 million. The arts also touch some 500 jobs in our community.
How Can I Contribute?
To contribute online, please click on Online Giving. For information about contributing by mail, please click on Donate.
Meet the 2010 ArtsErie United Fund Campaign Chair
Jim Dible has been CEO and President of the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership since January of 2008. Prior to that he was CEO, President and Publisher of Times Publishing Company since August 2003. He joined the company as Vice President and General Manager in September of 1996.
Prior to joining Times Publishing, Dible was Director of the New Horizons Group (NHG), the research and development division of the newspaper in Pottsville, PA. NHG was responsible for developing media products for use in its local market and to offer to newspapers in other markets.
From 1981 to 1994, Dible was publisher of the Lewistown Sentinel, Lewistown, PA, part of the Buckner News Alliance.
A past president of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association (PNA) Foundation and of PNA, Dible served as chairman of PNA’s New Media Ventures Committee at its inception. He was also a charter member of the New Media Federation Board of the Newspaper Association of America (NAA) and is a past member of NAA’s Industry Development Committee.
Jim’s community activities include: Board member and past chairman of United Way of Erie County, Past Board and Economic Development Committee member of the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership, Past Chairman of VisitErie.
Jim and his wife, Judy, have two sons and 10 grandchildren.
Related Materials
• 2010 Brochure (Right-click to download PDF)
