Richard Skipper age 2.

Being an artist means a lifetime commitment. When I was a young boy growing up in South Carolina, I wanted to be an actor even before I knew what being an actor meant. At that time, I thought it meant being a movie star. You see, I am a product of the sixties. I actually remember going from a black and white TV to color! WOW! Today's generation is going from analog to digital! I watched many classic movies making their television debut! Remember the excitement when GONE WITH THE WIND finally got sold to NBC!?!?! We had three networks: ABC, CBS, & NBC and they ran from 5 or 6AM until perhaps 1 AM. They tried to reach the largest demographics possible. Therefore, we saw older generational entertainers and actors appearing with the most contemporary.

MTV changed our lives! For the first time, a network was aimed at one demographic. If an audience is only presented with Britney Spears, Madonna, MC Hammer, etc. how will they ever know Michael Crawford, Carol Channing and Doris Day, or Bing Crosby?

With the changes in our culture, i.e., the internet, home entertainment centers, ipods, YouTube and the economy, live theatre is hurting now more than ever! What is worse, is that the arts in public schools are being cut left and right! One of the greatest things that has happened to me over the past 10 years is a wonderful friendship with Carol Channing and her husband, Harry Kullijian. At a time when most people would be resting on their laurels, they are traveling around the country entertaining and speaking about the importance of the arts in public schools. I was lucky to do the very first benefit for the Foundation! My guest that night was none other than Neal Sedaka, with Carol & Harry and a star studded audience in attendance. It is my commitment to the arts and education that has gotten me so involved with

Harry & Carol, Aptos Jr. HS

The return to the teaching of the arts in the public schools requires that states and its citizens reevaluate, reexamine and rethink the benefits to be derived from a complete and adequate education that includes exposure to the arts as a part of the regular curriculum. Education, not only in the arts but education as a whole throughout the United States must be lifted to a considerably higher priority. If we do not act upon this soon and begin serious discussions about remedying this increasingly serious lack of the standards for which this country was known, we are at risk to lose the main ingredient of the world class goals of a true democracy.

The Carol Channing and Harry Kullijian Foundation is currently producing a PSA with confirmed participants including Alec Mapa, Florence Henderson, Kevin Sorbo, Kate Linder, Donna Mills, Stefanie Powers, Lily Tomlin, JoAnne Worley and, of course, Carol Channing.

As one of the PSA participants Florence Henderson said "Anything we can do these days to support our youth and encourage their education is too important to ignore," who recently had a very positive result when over 700 students and parents showed up for an appearance she at La Quinta Middle School in San Diego to encourage the children.

The PSA will be edited and delivered for its premiere at the national PTA meeting on May 2nd when they honor Carol Channing. It will then be distributed through both local and national PTA offices as well as through out the California school system by CSU Stanislaus with the help of former CA Secretary of Education, Dave Long.
Please contact me (Richard@RichardSkipper.com) and let's discuss what we can do together to create positive change!