On today's show, Adrian talks with founders of the Ovation School for the Performing Arts, a nonprofit providing quality performing arts education to children in the community.  Later, Bruce Gale brings us an interview with this week's Peace Fund Kid Heroes Alex and Hannah Laman.

Research has shown that the performing arts plays a significant role in developing a child’s creativity and firing up their imagination.  This platform provides a place where students can express themselves confidently.  They learn communication, team work, listening skills and leadership.

Creative expression is a great way to build self-confidence and this can be very beneficial for introverted and reserved children.  For a child who can’t find the words to talk about their feelings, it’s much easier to hide behind a character and use that outlet to open up and express what they’re feeling.

And the benefits carry over to school.  Students who are involved in the arts have higher school motivation, engagement in class, self-esteem, and life satisfaction.  Working in the arts helps learners to develop creative problem-solving skills.

A study by the Arts Education Partnership suggests that school children exposed to drama, music and dance are more proficient in reading, writing and math. In countries with the highest rankings in math and science, such as Japan, Hungary and the Netherlands, arts and music education form a mandatory part of the school curriculum.  Performing arts programs have multiple connections to reading, verbal and math skills, problem-solving, and creative thinking.

And this brings us to today's highlighted charity, Ovation School for the Performing Arts...

Ovation School for the Performing Arts is dedicated to the discovery, education and development of character and talent.  By utilizing the Performing Arts to teach life-skills and the concept of giving back, they change the world one child at a time.

Ovation was founded in 2004 to provide a quality performing arts education that is accessible to children and teens of all demographics.  In doing so, Ovation has become a safe haven for many youth in our community.  They attract students of all levels of ability.  In the classroom, they allow the creativity to blossom while teaching structure in a non-judgmental or critical way. @OvationPerformingArts

Adrian had the opportunity to talk with the founders, John Lewis, Jacqueline Donley and Becky Broyles and Board member Mark Marshall.

Twins Hannah and Alexander Laman were inspired to start Adopt a Book in November 2011, when they were just 8 years old after they heard about kids in the Greater Cincinnati area who didn’t own books of their own. To date, they have donated over 140,000 books to over 100 organizations, schools and programs serving children in need.

Many of the kids that receive their books have never been to a library, don’t have access to a library or have ever owned a book of their own.  Hannah and Alex collect new and gently used children’s books and then deliver them to kids in need of books.  @Adoptabookohio

Today, Bruce Gale interviews Hannah and Alexander, this week’s Kid Heroes.