DETROIT (WXYZ) — Jeffrey Seller, a metro Detroit native and the producer of the hit Broadway musical 'Hamilton,' has donated $1 million to the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit through his foundation.
Announced last month, the grand will help fund two programs, the theatre's summer camp and the Mosaic Experience Empowerment Program. It will be distributed over five years from the Seller-Lehrer Family Foundation.
That foundation was founded by Seller and his partner, Josh Lehrer, to help fund dynamic education, cultural and environmental organizations.
“I have admired Rick Sperling since the 1980’s when he directed shows at Performance Network in Ann Arbor. He daily demonstrates that theatre changes lives," Seller said in a release.
Sperling founded Mosaic 27 years ago. The theatre provides summer camp, mentoring and other artistic opportunities for Detroit. It's alumni have been nominated for Emmy, Tony and Grammy awards.
“This incredibly generous grant comes at an important inflection point in Mosaic’s long history,” said Rick Sperling. “We have demonstrated success in exposing the exciting world of theatre and music to Detroit’s youth. As we move onto an exciting future with new leadership in 2019, this grant ensures a smooth transition and our continued ability to fully fund our summer camp and the Mosaic Experience Empowerment Program in Detroit’s middle schools," Sperling said.
“Rick’s leadership and the team that Mosaic has put in place – Stefanie Worth and DeLashea Strawder – will ensure that this great organization continues to provide artistic and educational opportunity for Detroit students for another 27 years," Seller added.
With the funding, the theatre will be able to upport upt ot 200 camp scholarships.
