THE MASON FAMILY

Steve Mason and his family exemplify outstanding family volunteering. They work year round to improve their community’s awareness of the arts as foundation of higher-level thinking skills. Steve and Kym are advocates of the positive value of diversity and invest time and resources promoting the creative power of the Oklahoma City community.

The Mason family has worked at Arts Council programs such as Winter Tales Storytelling Festival and Opening Night. Steve and Kym are tremendous supporters of the Council’s After School Arts Program, and they have been active volunteers with the Festival of Arts for the past 15 years.

Steve Mason has been a member of the Board of Directors since 1999. He brought his personal and professional resources to the table for the benefit of the Arts Council of Oklahoma City. He has also co-chaired SeptemberFest, the statewide celebration of Oklahoma on the grounds of the Governors Mansion. In addition, he was instrumental in the On The Water Program for underserved youth that is now a program of the YMCA, and he serves on the advisory committee for the Oklahoma City Community Foundation’s After School Option s funding program.

Travis, George and Marie began volunteering with their parents almost from the time they could walk. The young Masons have learned philanthropy first hand and have a fund where nonprofit organizations are invited to submit a project for funding consideration. They go through a very thoughtful process of deciding how the funds will be dispersed with guidance, as opposed to decisions, from Kym and Steve. The Mason family is a volunteer package, and the children are now also involved in the planning, implementation and evaluation process.

Currently, the elder Masons are focusing on making this year’s Arts Festival more educationally enhancing. Travis is a basketball coach to a first grade team for a neighborhood school, and he and George have recently been solicited, considered and provided funds to the Boy Scouts and Oklahoma City Arts Council for specific projects. Travis, George and Marie will continue to organize and staff the booth for the Spring Arts Festival. Travis and George have also completed separate Boy Scout Eagle projects to benefit the community.