June 2, 2009

Six Emerging Artists Receive Shenson Performing Arts Fellowships from The San Francisco Foundation

(SAN FRANCISCO) – Tuesday, June 2, 2009 – Sandra R. Hernández, M.D., CEO, and David Friedman, Chair of the Board of Trustees, announced today the six recipients of the third Shenson Performing Arts Fellowships. These awards seek to invest in the next generation of Bay Area performing artists, and provide $5,000 to assist with their professional advancement.

The Fellows were selected for their artistic merit and potential for future excellence and impact in his or her performing arts discipline. The 2008-2009 Fellows are:

•    Actor Emily Kitchens with American Conservatory Theater
•    Soprano Leah Crocetto with San Francisco Opera
•    Kathak dancer Farah Yasmeen Shaikh with Chhandam Chitresh Das Dance Company
•    Baritone John Smalley with Community Music Center
•    Pianist and conductor Yuchi Chou with San Francisco Conservatory of Music
•    Literary artist, actor, and musician Daveed Diggs with Youth Speaks

“The Doctors Shenson were passionate about encouraging pre-professional students in the performing arts. Our hope is that their memory will be carried on by these exemplary young artists who are impacting their performing arts disciplines. We want to reward these artists for their successes thus far, and inspire them to continue to strive for excellence,” said Fred Levin, cousin of Doctors Ben and A. Jess Shenson, who started the Shenson Foundation at The San Francisco Foundation. Fred and his wife, Nancy Livingston, are the second generation of stewards of the Shenson Foundation.

About The Shenson Performing Arts Fellowship
The Shenson Performing Arts Fellowships are one of 11 awards given to individual artists in the Bay Area by The San Francisco Foundation. Nominations for this Fellowship were invited from a group of 14 Bay Area arts organizations that have excellent professional-track performing arts training programs.

About The San Francisco Foundation
The San Francisco Foundation (TSFF) is the community foundation serving the Bay Area since 1948, granting nearly $776 million over the past ten years. Through the generosity and vision of our donors, TSFF awarded grants totaling more than $96 million in fiscal year 2008. Bringing together donors and building on community assets through grantmaking, leveraging, public policy, advocacy, and leadership development, TSFF addresses community needs in the areas of community health, education, arts and culture, community development, and the environment. The San Francisco Foundation is a community foundation serving San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, and San Mateo Counties.