Chaddock awarded Arts Quincy Arts Dollars grant to benefit Youth Theatre Club

QUINCY — Chaddock has been awarded $500 from the Arts Quincy Arts Dollars Grants program for the Chaddock Youth Theatre Club funding.

Funded in part by the Illinois Arts Council Agency, the Stillwell Foundation and the business and individual members of Arts Quincy, this grant will be used for Chaddock’s after-school Theatre Club program. Instructors from the Quincy Community Theatre will conduct theatre workshops with Chaddock children on their main campus, 205 S. 24th.

Workshops will involve improvisation and theatre games, along with play-writing and storytelling exercises. This gives the children Chaddock serves, through its developmental trauma and attachment program, the chance to learn about staging, prop designs, costumes and performing in a theater.

In a press release, Pam Sheely, therapeutic activities manager at Chaddock, said, “Providing opportunities for our kids to engage in the performing arts has many benefits for our children’s treatment. Theatre-style games are similar to ‘theraplay’ in that they challenge our kids to develop healthy social skills in a structured and nurturing environment.”

Ongoing research suggests creativity helps children learn to be problem-solvers, using their words and body movements to tell stories which enhances their self-esteem and communication skills. These activities allow children to build skills to express themselves in healthy and appropriate ways.

“We thank Arts Quincy for their continued investments into the lives of Chaddock kids,” said Molly Bainter, director of treatment services at Chaddock. “When our kids are given new and exciting opportunities, we witness them grow exponentially better mentally, emotionally and socially. We thank Arts Quincy and Quincy Community Theatre for their incredible partnership.”

For more information regarding the Chaddock Youth Theatre Club, visit @ChaddockforKids on Facebook or contact Crystal Zehnle, associate director of marketing and business development at czehnle@chaddock.org or 217-592-0460.