F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts received an $8,300 First Federal Charitable Foundation grant it plans to use toward its Laux Young People's Theater Series programming for students in grades K-12.
The Laux Young People's Theater Series program (YPTS) offers free, invaluable and creative learning experiences to thousands of local students in grades K-12 each year through five live theatrical performances held at the F.M. Kirby Center. The funding will be used to aid in covering the program expenses associated with booking and presenting all five shows in this series during the 2025-2026 season. With the program expenses covered, the Kirby Center can underwrite the program and continue offering this experience completely free of charge to local schools as opposed to charging for tickets.
The YPTS provides students with an educational theater experience. The topics of the shows typically involve social-emotional learning, cultural demonstrations, STEM/STEAM concepts, historical events and reenactments of classical literature. Tailored study guides for each show are provided to the participating school groups to further engage the students by introducing them to the show's topic and offering additional resources for deeper exploration after the event. The goal of the program is to provide a comprehensive and dynamic experience for the students to learn from and enjoy.
F.M. Kirby Center Executive Director Joell Yarmel said the organization is grateful for the support of the First Federal Charitable Foundation so they can continue to offer this vital learning opportunity for children.
“This beloved program addresses the critical need in our community for accessible and engaging arts education programming for students, as our schools continually face having to cut arts education and instructional field trip programs from their budgets,” she said. “Through this program, we further our mission of fostering and developing an appreciation of arts and culture while positively impacting and enriching the lives of children in our community.”
First Federal Charitable Foundation Executive Director Megan Kennedy said, “The F.M. Kirby Center has been a cultural icon in Northeast Pennsylvania for decades. We are proud to support the work they are doing to bring arts and theater education to students of all ages, especially those who might not otherwise be able to afford an experience like this.”
The First Federal Charitable Foundation was established to support worthwhile community causes. It strives to nurture nonprofit institutions and programs that will effectively serve those in need from the community, empower nonprofit institutions and programs that will expand their presence in and services to the area, and promote opportunities for new nonprofit institutions and programs that will serve the unserved.
Nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) IRS designation located in Luzerne, Schuylkill, Carbon and Columbia counties are eligible to apply. Any organization whose headquarters is in another county but services either Luzerne, Schuylkill, Carbon or Columbia counties may apply for a grant to be used in one of those counties.
For more information on the foundation or to obtain a grant application, visit www.1stfederalcharitable.org or email
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CAPTION: A local teacher and student join 'Mister C' onstage to participate in one of his demonstrations during the STEM-based "Mister C. LIVE: Air is Everywhere" show on November 4th, 2025 at the F.M. Kirby Center.