Saturday, March 8, 2008, TUSD's Opening Minds Through The Arts (OMA) Program and the Opening Minds Through The Arts (OMA) Foundation presented their fourth annual OMA Showcase fundraising event. 

This year's event honored Roger F. Pfueffer, TUSD Superintendent and Patricia Lopez, Deputy Superintendent.

Our Mistress of Ceremonies was Mindy Blake, Anchorwoman at KOLD TV.

Performances featured various OMA Artists (opera, movement and instrumentalists) and students from many of the 38 elementary schools participating in the OMA Program including

Vail Middle School Orchestra, Mariachi Reyes del Sol from Tucson High School,

recorders and dance by Lineweaver students,

a Native American flute piece by students from Lawrence and an OMA Honor Choir or approximately 80 students.

The $13,000 raised at year's event will help pay our OMA Artists who teach at 30 of TUSD's elementary schools for 32 weeks of the school year.

Following the concert was a reception for patrons to Meet the Artists and congratulate our honorees, catered by Blue House Catering.

Music was provided by OMA Artist, Gregg Reynolds.

Among our guests were Allison Hughes and Kristen Almquist from the Governor's office, Phil Lopes (Leader, House of Democrats), Pam Simon from Gabrielle Gifford's office, a representative from Raul Grijalva's office, Tucson City Council Member Karen Ulich, Tucson City Council member Regina Romero's Aides, Mary Ann Dobras from the Stocker Foundation and TUSD Governing Board member Bruce Burke.

We wish to thank all those who donated to this event, it is through your generous donations that we are able to sustain and expand the OMA Program.