St. Joseph Ballet Gets Challenge Grant

Santa Ana-based St. Joseph Ballet has received a $600,000 challenge grant from the Kresge Foundation toward its $7.8-million capital campaign for a new building and a permanent endowment.

The dance company for youths from troubled neighborhoods must raise $1.2 million by December 1999 to receive the grant. The largest gift the company has received is $658,000 from an anonymous donor.

The Kresge Foundation is in Troy, Mich. To date, St. Joseph’s capital campaign has raised $4.8 million.

“The Kresge grant is very special,” company founder Beth Burns said Friday. “This will really stimulate not just more foundation support but community support as well. People get excited if they can help you achieve a challenge grant. That’s a wonderful thing.”

The troupe’s new headquarters will be next to Kidseum in downtown Santa Ana’s Cultural Redevelopment District. Ground-breaking for the building is scheduled Oct. 11.