Canias Establish Endowment in Honor of CPS' 25th Anniversary

POTSDAM, NY (06/10/2015)(readMedia)-- Since its founding in 1989, the Community Performance Series has been embraced by North Country audiences. With gratitude to the community, Salvatore and Lisa Cania of Hannawa Falls have established The Cania Family Endowment in support of programs presented by CPS, in honor of the organization's 25th anniversary. This fund will yield income that will be used to sponsor an annual music concert and programming with students.

"We believe that the North Country is a special place to offer families a variety of cultural experiences, and CPS has been a valued resource for over 25 years," said Sal Cania '79, who founded the performing arts series. "Lisa and I hope that our gift will perpetuate concerts by visiting artists and their connection to local schools and community groups, events that our family loved to attend and that we want all families to enjoy."

CPS is a partnership with SUNY Potsdam that now offers year-round music, music theatre and dance performances in Potsdam and throughout the region. Sal Cania is a graduate of SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music, and worked at Crane for 20 years, before serving first at St. Lawrence University and now Clarkson University. Lisa's career began at SUNY Potsdam; she joined St. Lawrence University in 1987. Their children, Sal III and Emily, grew up in Potsdam and enjoyed access to high-quality performing arts activities.

As executive director for the organization's first 11 years, and as an advisory board member for the past 14 years, Sal has worked diligently to establish and grow several such named endowments, which provide financial stability and are utilized annually to offset the cost associated with artist fees.

Executive Director Amy Flack said, "Each year, CPS sees audiences of more than 8,500 through the Guest Artist Series, Meet the Arts programs for school children and the summer musicals. It takes the combined generosity of all our donors to make these events possible. Landmark gifts like the endowment created by Sal and Lisa help an organization like ours in a special way, because these funds represent guaranteed income each year. This gift also represents a level of commitment to CPS that speaks straight to the heart of our mission of service to the people of the North Country. Through their words and actions, the Cania family has been CPS' longest and most steadfast supporter."

For more information about giving to CPS, please contact Amy Flack at (315) 267-2412.

Established in 1989, CPS at SUNY Potsdam is a college-community partnership presenting world-class performing artists and arts education opportunities in Northern New York. A rich mixture of programs links community, classroom and audiences of all ages, while preserving access to the performing arts for future generations. For more information, please visit www.cpspotsdam.org.

Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of only three arts campuses in the entire SUNY system. SUNY Potsdam's arts curriculum offers the full palette: music, theatre, dance, fine arts and creative writing. No matter the discipline, people from all backgrounds can find their creative compass at Potsdam, with myriad arts immersion experiences available for both campus and community.

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