News Release

Ideal Homes to receive Governor's Arts Award

Nov. 6, 2007

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Ann Dee Lee
Public Information Director
Oklahoma Arts Council
(405) 521-2931
anndee@arts.ok.gov

Oklahoma City, OK – Ideal Homes, Norman, will be honored by Governor Brad Henry at the 32nd Annual Governor’s Arts Awards. Ideal Homes will receive the Earl Sneed Memorial Business Award which recognizes businesses and corporations that exhibit outstanding support of the arts in Oklahoma. Accepting the award will be President Gene McKown.

Sponsored by the Oklahoma Arts Council, 16 individuals and four organizations will be honored for their contributions to the arts in their communities or throughout the state. The ceremony is scheduled for 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 28th in the 4th Floor Rotunda of the State Capitol and is open to the public. Presiding at the ceremony will be Council Chair Jim Tolbert and Interim Executive Director Suzanne Tate.

Ideal Homes was founded in 1990 and now is one of the fastest growing and most successful home builders in Oklahoma. Heavily involved in public art, Ideal Homes has donated thousands of dollars to help the City of Norman and the Norman Arts Council erect sculpture and fund improvements at public parks.

In particular, their largest contribution was to the development of Legacy Trail, a beautifully landscaped and paved trail with sculptures and historical points of interest that covers four city blocks in Norman. In addition, the company has contributed property to access public parks that hold numerous festivals and other arts programs and activities. The Ideal quality philosophy extends to community service, with the company donating five percent of profits back to the community every year. The company and its employees have also donated their time, labor and materials to benefit the Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity as well as other volunteer efforts.

A reception on the first floor of the Capitol will follow the 4 p.m. ceremony.  A complete list of Governor’s Arts Awards recipients and their photos are available at www.arts.ok.gov. For more information about the Governor’s Arts Awards, please contact Ann Dee Lee at (405) 521-2931 or at anndee@arts.ok.gov.

ABOUT THE OKLAHOMA ARTS COUNCIL

The Oklahoma Arts Council is a state agency whose mission is to improve lives through the arts by promoting and sustaining the development of a thriving arts environment, which is essential to quality of life, education and economic vitality for all Oklahomans.

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