On Tuesday, Oct. 2, Square and the Cheyenne River Youth Project were awarded the David D. Rockefeller pARTnership Award at the BCA 10 black-tie gala at the Loeb Boathouse in New York’s Central Park. (Square’s Sean Conroy, left, with CRYP Executive Director Julie Garreau and Camilla Rockefeller, right; photograph by Sylvain Gaboury, courtesy of Americans for the Arts.)
Each year, Americans for the Arts—through its Business Committee for the Arts program—recognizes 10 businesses of all sizes for exceptional involvement with the arts that enriches the workplace, education and the community. At the culmination of its annual gala event, it also bestows the BCA Leadership Award and David D. Rockefeller pARTnership Award.
Camilla Rockefeller presented the David D. Rockefeller award, which is named for her grandfather, to Square and CRYP. This special award recognizes a company and an arts organization for an exceptional project, program or initiative that represents a true alliance, collaboration or exchange between the two.
Last year, Square and CRYP worked with San Francisco-based Even/Odd Films to produce a short film titled “Lakota in America.” The film tells the story of Lakota teen Genevieve Iron Lightning, her involvement with CRYP and its innovative internship program, and life on South Dakota’s remote Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation.
“We were deeply honored to receive the David D. Rockefeller award, and to share it with the wonderful people at Square,” says Julie Garreau, CRYP’s executive director. “Typically, people come into Indian Country and tell native stories from their own perspectives. But the team at Square came in and really saw us. They heard us. They gave us a powerful platform to tell our story our way, and in the process, they became so much more than partners. They became part of our CRYP family.
“We’re grateful to Square and Even/Odd Films for all of their hard work and their steadfast friendship,” she continues. “We’re grateful to Americans for the Arts for recognizing all of us with this award. And we congratulate all the other BCA 10 honorees; it was our great pleasure to meet you in New York, and to hear your stories. You inspire us.”
Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts, says he applauds the partnership between Square and CRYP, “which is not only spreading awareness of the arts and its intersection with economic success, but is positively impacting the lives of Eagle Butte residents and strengthening the community as a whole.”
This year’s BCA 10 honorees included Churchill Downs, Fifth Third Bank, Fosun, Phillips 66, The Standard, Tierney, UMB Financial Corporation, VF Corporation, West Bend Mutual Insurance Company, and Zions Bank.
In addition, Chandrika Tandon, Grammy-nominated singer and founder and chairperson of Tandon Capital Associates in New York City, was honored with the BCA Leadership Award, which recognizes individuals for their extraordinary vision, leadership, and commitment to supporting the arts and for encouraging other businesses to follow their lead.
For information about BCA 10, contact Danielle Iwata at (202) 371-2830 or via e-mail at diwata@artsusa.org.
To stay up to date on the latest CRYP news and events, follow the youth project on Facebook (/LakotaYouth), Twitter (@LakotaYouth) and Instagram (@waniyetuwowapi).
The Cheyenne River Youth Project, founded in 1988, is a grassroots, not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing the youth of the Cheyenne River reservation with access to a vibrant and secure future through a wide variety of culturally sensitive and enduring programs, projects and facilities that ensure strong, self-sufficient families and communities.
Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education in America. With offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City, it has a record of more than 55 years of service. Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Additional information is available at AmericansForTheArts.org.
Founded in 1967 by David Rockefeller, the Business Committee for the Arts (BCA), a division of Americans for the Arts, encourages, inspires, and stimulates businesses to support the arts in the workplace, in education, and in the community. The Business Committee for the Arts merged with Americans for the Arts’ in 2008.