Sitar Arts Center, a multi-disciplinary arts center for children and youth in Washington, DC's at-risk communities, has been nationally recognized as a 2009 Coming Up Taller award winner by the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, distinguishing Sitar as one of the premier afterschool arts and humanities organizations serving youth in the country.

First Lady Michelle Obama presented Sitar with the prestigious award during a special ceremony at the White House on November 4th honoring 15 winners from across the United States, including another DC award-winner, Higher Achievement.

The Coming Up Taller award identifies and supports outstanding out-of-school and after-school arts and humanities programs for children with great potential but limited outlets for creative expression. The organizations chosen for the award offer exceptional learning experiences in the arts and humanities and have a tangible effect on the lives of young people as evidenced through improved academic scores, enhanced life skills, and positive relationships with peers and adults.

"We are honored that Sitar Arts Center's multi-disciplinary arts program has been recognized by the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities," said Ed Spitzberg, Sitar's executive director.

"The 2009 Coming Up Taller Award is a testament to the community we've built and the ongoing commitment of our students, parents, volunteers, and nationally recognized artistic partners who work together to help young people in Washington, DC achieve their dreams, whatever they may be. The honor also reinforces the importance of ensuring that no child's artistic talents or ambitions are ever limited by financial factors."

The Coming Up Taller award is presented by the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

Sitar Arts Center was nominated for the honor by NBC Universal and recommended by Target, both supporters of Sitar Arts Center and its mission to provide the youth in our community the opportunity to explore the arts and discover their artistic talent, regardless of their ability to pay.

Approaching its tenth year of bringing arts education to youth in its inner-city community, Sitar Arts Center has seen a 40 percent increase in enrollment since 2007. Most recently, Sitar's young artists have performed at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage with Grammy-winner Prince's rhythm section, made music at the White House Jazz Studio with the Marsalis family and First Lady Michelle Obama, had their art displayed in the Capitol building, and performed for Secretary of Education Arne Duncan at the national kickoff of Lights on Afterschool. The Center's students have gone on to study the arts at prestigious institutions like Duke Ellington School for the Arts, Michigan State University, Bryn Mawr College, and Bates College.

Beginning this November, Lilly Pulitzer is launching a year-long "Lilly Loves Green" campaign. Following the brand's 50th Anniversary "Jubilee", the launch of Lilly Pulitzer's year of green comes perfectly timed with America Recycles Week, which runs from 8 - 15 November. Lilly has never repeated a print in 50 years, and this time their signature prints will raise funding and awareness for important green causes. 

Looking back over 50 years, what really makes people smile are the old Lillys. Not wrinkled and old. But worn and loved and just eeking good stories. They have a memory of a vacation to somewhere sunburnt and wonderful. A mom saved them for her children. Or a cousin wore them, passed them to a neighbor who is packing and saving them for a sister. They are meant to be recycled.

Fortunately people have been recycling Lilly Pulitzer for years, whether passing it along to future generations to enjoy, or searching consignment stores for pieces they know will last for decades. So Lilly Pulitzer is introducing a capsule of items that are just that...the "Originals" collection. Launching in tandem with America Recycles Week, they embody everything that's treasured about Lilly and will be here for generations to come, in the hopes that wearers will enjoy them to the fullest and then pass them along. In other words... Reduce. Reuse. Re-Lilly. 

The Lilly Pulitzer Resort collection features one print called "In the Slim", inspired by an iconic Slim Aarons fashion photograph taken in 1964 for the pages of Town & Country. Modern day "Originals" Kick and Kyra Kennedy, daughters of Bobby Kennedy Jr., carry on the family tradition by modeling "Originals" styles in Lilly Pulitzer's Resort campaign. They are following in the footsteps of "original" Lilly fans, Jackie, Kathleen and her mother, Rose Kennedy. The Kennedy gals even donated all of their modeling fees to family-founded Riverkeeper Foundation, an organization dedicated to keeping the Hudson River as green as possible. 

Beyond being "sustainable" in concept, the collection itself is also eco-friendly: All hangtags and in-garment labels are made of 100% recycled material. The collection is officially endorsed by Cotton Inc., and the dye process in which the garments are printed is internationally certified as using low-impact dye, eliminating any harmful byproducts. The common recycling statistics are out. An aluminum can take 500 years to break down. A glass bottle can take 1000. Did you know Americans throw out an average of 68lbs of clothing a year? 

Lilly Pulitzer is enlisting its customers to help recycle clothing, by donating it to a very worthy cause. Someone in need of something special and Lilly's got just the group. Meet “The Princess Project,” a 100% volunteer effort and non-profit organization solely devoted to putting smiles on girls' faces. They provide free dresses and accessories to high school girls who could not otherwise afford them to wear to one of the most memorable nights in a girl's life - prom. Lilly Pulitzer is inviting customers nationwide to dive into their closets to recycle for mother earth and an incredibly good cause.