Lincoln Financial Foundation is strengthening art education opportunities and access to the arts for a broad spectrum of New Hampshire residents through $138,833 in grants to eight local nonprofit organizations. These grants are a portion of nearly $500,000 in charitable funds Lincoln Foundation has allocated for New Hampshire in 2013.

The New Hampshire Institute of Art will use a $60,000 grant over three years to create the Lincoln Financial Community After-School Program. This new program will provide after-school art instruction for elementary and high school students in the Manchester school system, especially those from refugee and low-income families. The students will be taught by participants in the Institute's post-baccalaureate K-12 Art Education Certification Program. The Lincoln Financial Community After-School Program will provide a dual learning experience through structured after-school art instruction by providing after-school care and tutelage as well as a concentrated teaching experience for the Institute's art education students. The program will be permanently housed in the renovated lower level of St. Anne's Church, which has been acquired by the Institute of Art.

Other arts grants awarded include:

• $20,000 to the Capitol Center for the Arts for its 2013-2014 Lincoln Financial School Series, providing curriculum-based educational programming for more than 20,000 K-12 students and their teachers.
• $13,633 to Red River Theatres to underwrite weekly screenings for Pembroke Academy's post graduate transitional students, providing access to arts programming and socialization opportunities for adults with disabilities. The grant also will be used to expand outreach efforts to middle and high school students to provide programming and opportunities for communal discussion on socially-relevant, age appropriate topics.
• $12,500 to the Concord Community Music School for its Music in the Community Initiative, providing music education in schools with a high proportion of low-income or ethnic minority children, as well as classes for children with physical, developmental and emotional disabilities.
• $11,000 to the Currier Museum of Art for its 2013 School Tour and Educator Program, which incorporates Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) into the tour program, promoting discussions that engage students in careful looking and critical thinking. The grant also supports Currier staff visits to schools to lead faculty-wide VTS workshops, as well as an online curriculum for educators.
• $10,000 to the MacDowell Colony to support the MacDowell Medal Day awards ceremony, public outreach and open studios for the public.
• $8,200 to Intown Concord to fund an online arts and culture calendar, accessible online and through social media, that will make information on entertainment and cultural events easily accessible to Concord residents and visitors.
• $3,500 to Pontine Theatre to present its 2013 touring program to up to 10 assisted living communities and nursing homes across New Hampshire.

About Lincoln Financial Foundation

The Lincoln Financial Foundation, established in 1962, is a nonprofit organization formed and supported by Lincoln Financial Group. Under Lincoln Foundation guidelines, grants are made in the areas of arts, education, human services and economic/workforce development. The Lincoln Foundation awarded almost $500,000 to support nonprofits in New Hampshire in 2012. Since 2006, Lincoln Foundation has contributed nearly $2.8 million to New Hampshire nonprofits.

About Lincoln Financial Group

Lincoln Financial Group has set aside almost $10 million of its pre-tax earnings for charitable causes that support philanthropic endeavors in the communities where its employees work. Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE:LNC) and its affiliates. With headquarters in the Philadelphia region, the companies of Lincoln Financial Group had assets under management of $178 billion as of December 31, 2012. Through its affiliated companies, Lincoln Financial Group offers: annuities; life, group life, disability and dental insurance; 401(k) and 403(b) plans; savings plans; and comprehensive financial planning and advisory services. For more information, including a copy of our most recent SEC reports containing our balance sheets, please visit www.LincolnFinancial.com.