When Neil Schiffman competes in the Ironman Triathlon in Panama City, Fla., on Nov. 6, his heart will be beating not only to sustain him through the grueling swim (2.4 miles), bike ride (112 miles), and marathon run (26.2 miles) of the event.
His heart will also be beating to raise money for the Community School of Music & Arts (CSMA). For the past several weeks, Schiffman has been gathering sponsorships from family, friends and business associates for his personal "HeART Beats for the ARTS" campaign. All funds raised go to CSMA, a 30-year old non-profit arts education center in Mountain View, dedicated to providing arts for all.
The 51-year old former school principal is no novice to pushing himself physically. Schiffman has biked across the United States and competed in numerous marathons and long-distance bike races. "I know what it is to challenge myself through rigorous training and competition," commented Schiffman. "But one night at dinner my wife, Evy, 'upped the ante' on the Ironman competition by challenging me not only to train physically, but to raise money for a cause that both of us believe in."
The cause that Schiffman selected, arts education, was a natural choice. Both his former career as an educator and his wife's 9-year affiliation with the Community School of Music & Arts as the school's communications director made Schiffman want to dedicate his participation in the Ironman competition to his "HeART Beats for the ARTS!" campaign.
"I know first-hand from my days as a school principal how important arts education is," said Schiffman. "The arts are an integral part of any child's education and complement and enhance virtually every other subject in the curriculum from math and science to language and critical thinking development."
Schiffman, a national wholesale mail order business owner, notes that his campaign has already generated a lot of support from family, friends and business associates. He said that supporters have been sponsoring him at what he jokingly refers to as "his resting heart beat rate, his aerobic heart beat rate, his anaerobic heart beat rate and his super carbo loaded heart rate."
CSMA's arts-in-the-schools programs (Arts in Action, Music in Action), private lessons, classes and camps, free family concerts and exhibits, and generous financial aid program reach more than 17,000 people of all ages annually. CSMA is currently in the planning and design stages of building a permanent home for the school.
To sponsor Neil Schiffman in his Ironman "HeART Beats for the ARTS" campaign, contact CSMA Director of Development John McGuirk at 961-0342, ext. 303.