Betsye Kay Finch Foundation Awards 4th Scholarship
Alexis Rocker awarded Janiyah McAllister, of Davenport, the 4th annual Betsye Kay Finch scholarship at the May 23, 2023 awards ceremony.
Photo: Robin Phillips
Congratulations to this year's $2,500 scholarship winner, Janiyah McAllister of Davenport! Janiyah, a 2023 Harrison School for the Arts graduate, performed in Mary Poppins and The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Harrison and in community theatre and other musicals. An extraordinary singer, dancer, and actor, Janiyah will pursue a Bachelor's in Music Theatre at Baldwin Wallace University, Music Conservatory in Berea, Ohio.
Talent Illuminated our 2nd Annual Gala
Our 2nd annual gala, “A Touch of Broadway, Act 2,” wowed the crowd with songs and dances from Broadway luminaries including the Gershwin brothers, Irving Berlin, and Lin-Manual Miranda. Tap dancers from the Highland School of Dance kicked off the live event on Oct. 20, 2022, and Lakeland Mayor William Mutz introduced the acts. Former Radio City Music Hall Rockettes Karyn Tomczak and Kelly Croteau rocked the audience with their talent, and Theatre Winter Haven Academy performed an act from Disney’s Moana Jr. A budding musical theatre major, Madalyn Macko, lit up the stage at the Junior League Building in Lakeland, with her rendition of Shall We Dance. Singers Ashleigh Christian-Massey and Rebecca Renfroe-Borneman performed the BKF Foundation’s theme song, Dancing in the Tune, accompanied by Josh Dampier, violinist. Many thanks to our sponsors, silent auction contributors and volunteers!
Dancers left to right: Mae Sharrett, Teagan Youngblood, Kailey Rutledge, Chloe Lantham, Cambry Stafford, Logan Patton, Caitlin Kaiser, Lilly Stewart. Photo Courtesy of Phllips Photography
A special thanks to our Sponsors for making our second annual
Betsye Kay Finch Gala a huge success.
Opening Night Level
Ann & Ward Edwards
Ansley & Greg Masters
Rockette Level
The Carol and Barney Barnett Family Foundation Fund
within the GiveWell Community Foundation
Scott & Denese Langston
The Brant Martin Family
Debbie, Ansley, Dennis, Hunter & Greg
Donna Bebber
Choreographer Level
Hollis & Debbie Hooks
Candi Packett
Debbie & Jay Dominick
Doris & Bill Ellsworth
The Kay Girls
Ed & Charlotte Kay
Kay Annis Wilson
Denise K. Crenshaw
Chantele Aldridge
Melissa, Gavin, & Alex Finch
Anonymous
Thomas Hall & Ken Jewett
And many thanks to our Cast Level Sponsors who were highlighted in our event program.
2022 Scholarship Award Ceremony: Oshea Darrington, recipient
"The Fruits of Giving" by Abby Rogers
“Dancing gives wings
to my passion;
musical theater
gives voice to my soul.”
-Betsye Kay Finch
Past Happenings
The Impact of Dance and Musical Theater
GivingTuesday, December 1, 2020
Facebook Live! at the Historic Polk Theatre, January 28,2021
Fundraiser for the Betsye Kay Finch Performing Arts Foundation, Inc.
...In the Media
Visit our Archives for past publications
Dancing in the Tune
by Rebecca Renfroe-Borneman
LALtoday.com, June 2023
Polk ArtBeat, June 2023