Pamela Levine. Photo by Pam Hamilton.
The Pamela Levine Arts Education Fund
Pamela Levine, Youth in Arts’ Executive Director from 1996 to 2006, passed away in April 2007 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Her passion and dedication to Youth in Arts and to our mission of arts education will always be remembered. With a generous donation in Pam’s memory from the Laszlo N. Tauber Family Foundation, Youth in Arts established The Pamela Levine Arts Education Fund. The Fund serves as seed funds for an endowment for Youth in Arts. Tax-deductible donations can be made to the Fund by making a note on your check or Paypal donation (using the button to the left) to indicate your wish to donate to this special cause.
The Pamela Levine Arts Education Leadership Award
Each year, Youth in Arts honors one or more individuals, or an organization, for exceptional work in providing or supporting arts education in Marin. Important criteria include effective collaboration and success in building links between programs and the community. Awardees are selected by the Staff and Board of Youth in Arts in collaboration with the family of Pam Levine. The $1,000 award is presented at a large Youth in Art’s community event. This year the Pamela Levine Arts Education Leadership Award was presented at Youth in Arts Day of the Marin County Fair on June 30, 2011 on the Ben & Jerry's stage.
2011 Recipient
Co-Director of Dedication for Special Education Betty Lituanio received the fourth annual Pamela Levine Arts Education Leadership Award. Betty Lituanio has been a tireless advocate for accessibility and arts education both as an individual and as the Co-Director of Dedication for Special Education. Dedication to Special Education is an all-volunteer parent organization committed to improving special education in Marin County. Although Dedication does not specifically support the arts, Betty personally advocated to Marin County Office of Education to continue their funding for arts residencies in Special Day Classrooms. Betty's daughters have both been involved in many Youth in Arts programs. Betty has helped Youth in Arts adopt universal design improvements to make programs more accessible, like chalk-painting tables for students with disabilities at the Italian Street Painting Festival, ASL interpretation at our live performances, and visual cues for students in arts residencies.
Betty has mobilized and coordinated students with disabilities and their classroom teachers to come to events like Youth in Arts Presents at Marin Center, special events at the Marin Youth Center, Youth in Arts Day at the Marin County Fair and after school music classes at Parents Place.
Betty promotes and believes in the power of arts education to effect change. She is a force for ensuring that students of all abilities are involved in the arts. As the North Bay affiliate of VSA arts, Youth in Arts has valued our relationship with Betty Lituanio. We believe that Betty embodies the passion and spirit of the Pamela Levine Arts Education Leadership Award.
Past Recipients
2010: Joan Capurro, Vice President, Bank of Marin for business leadership in the arts.
2009: Joy Phoenix and Ingrid Purcell, for their long time volunteer service on the board of Youth in Arts, respectively running the Photography Team and creating the Volunteer Program for the Italian Street Painting Festival.
2008: Marty Meade, Teaching Artist, for her exemplary work with students of all ages and abilities, including highly at-risk youth.
From the Levine Family
Pam lived a full and rewarding life in her 52 years. She was born in Brooklyn, grew up in New York and moved to the Bay Area in 1977 to complete doctoral work in Psychology. She married Dr. Stephen Levine in 1982 and was deeply proud of her children Jacob and Sasha. Before coming to Youth in Arts, Pam was President of RVSC (now the Yes Foundation) and served on the Ross Valley District School Board. At Youth in Arts, Pam oversaw the expansion of the organization and received extensive accolades for her work. Pam’s soul was sweet, artistic and overflowing with love. A sculptor and dancer in her youth, she was dedicated to enriching the Marin community through the arts and arts education. Pam, a non-smoker, would have liked to give thanks to all who showed their love and support during her three-and-a-half year battle with lung cancer.
