Upper Darby Arts & Education Foundation Programs
Upper Darby Arts & Education Foundation, 1550 Garrett Rd, Upper Darby Township, PA 19082
About
Upper Darby Arts & Education Foundation Programs include summer camps and year-round options across multiple arts disciplines. The programs are home to the award-winning Upper Darby Summer Stage and the Schoener MusicMan Academy, and they annually welcome 800 young people and entertain more than 26,000 community members through performances and programming. The Foundation has begun offering pop-up classes in various locations throughout the community in anticipation of opening SPARC in Barclay Square as a home for classes beginning Summer 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
Since 1998, the Upper Darby Arts & Education Foundation has been dedicated to enriching the lives of young people and residents through educational programming, arts opportunities, and community service. Its mission is: “We transform lives through inclusive arts and education experiences that empower young people and unite our community.” The Foundation has earned a Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency.
The Foundation partners with Upper Darby Township to offer scholarships for enrolled UDAEF campers to attend SPARC Summer Camp for free, with limited funds available. It is proud to partner with dozens of local and regional organizations to amplify collective impact on the community, and it sponsors the UDAE Service Club and Upper Darby Collaborative, encouraging community involvement and creating connections across neighborhoods. Libraries work with UDAEF student volunteers, serve as collection points for the holiday toy drive, and have gathered donations for Murphy’s Giving Market.
The leadership team includes Executive Director Justin Heimbecker, Associate Executive Director Jennifer Schoener, Director of Development Erik Christ, Office Manager Ryan Stone, Director of Education Rachel Brown, Summer Stage Artistic & Managing Director Chris Luner, SPARC Administrative Director Amanda Ehst, and Marketing Director Lauren Wall. The Board of Directors is led by President Jim Thompson, Vice President Steve Eberle, Governance & Records member Jackie Langley, Treasurer John Parkinson, and board members Francesca Buzzell, Paul Cheng, William Strahan, Carolyn Felker, Mariela Smith-McLallen, Vincent Perez, and Lisa Kostaneski, along with UD Township Representative Rita LaRue, UDSD Board Representative Damien Warsavage, Senior Student Delegate Farhin Ahmed, and Junior Student Delegate Sameer Karim.
Parent and participant feedback includes comments from a MusicMan Camp staff member who shared that being a “Greenie” gave her the opportunity to start guided teaching at a young age and led her to pursue music education at West Chester University. A Summer Stage parent and former participant described Summer Stage as a place to call home and a way to share art and community with her children. A parent from Butterfly Buddy Camp noted that her son enjoys creating art that matches his interests, including integrating letters into his art, and that he wishes the camp lasted longer. Another parent from Summer Stage Children’s Theatre shared that her child experiences a sense of belonging at Summer Stage. A community partner from Sellers Library described how the libraries work with UDAEF student volunteers, serve as collection points for the holiday toy drive, and gather donations for Murphy’s Giving Market.
Last updated July 10, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
Since 1998, the Upper Darby Arts & Education Foundation has been dedicated to enriching the lives of young people and residents through educational programming, arts opportunities, and community service. Its mission is: “We transform lives through inclusive arts and education experiences that empower young people and unite our community.” The Foundation has earned a Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency.
The Foundation partners with Upper Darby Township to offer scholarships for enrolled UDAEF campers to attend SPARC Summer Camp for free, with limited funds available. It is proud to partner with dozens of local and regional organizations to amplify collective impact on the community, and it sponsors the UDAE Service Club and Upper Darby Collaborative, encouraging community involvement and creating connections across neighborhoods. Libraries work with UDAEF student volunteers, serve as collection points for the holiday toy drive, and have gathered donations for Murphy’s Giving Market.
The leadership team includes Executive Director Justin Heimbecker, Associate Executive Director Jennifer Schoener, Director of Development Erik Christ, Office Manager Ryan Stone, Director of Education Rachel Brown, Summer Stage Artistic & Managing Director Chris Luner, SPARC Administrative Director Amanda Ehst, and Marketing Director Lauren Wall. The Board of Directors is led by President Jim Thompson, Vice President Steve Eberle, Governance & Records member Jackie Langley, Treasurer John Parkinson, and board members Francesca Buzzell, Paul Cheng, William Strahan, Carolyn Felker, Mariela Smith-McLallen, Vincent Perez, and Lisa Kostaneski, along with UD Township Representative Rita LaRue, UDSD Board Representative Damien Warsavage, Senior Student Delegate Farhin Ahmed, and Junior Student Delegate Sameer Karim.
Parent and participant feedback includes comments from a MusicMan Camp staff member who shared that being a “Greenie” gave her the opportunity to start guided teaching at a young age and led her to pursue music education at West Chester University. A Summer Stage parent and former participant described Summer Stage as a place to call home and a way to share art and community with her children. A parent from Butterfly Buddy Camp noted that her son enjoys creating art that matches his interests, including integrating letters into his art, and that he wishes the camp lasted longer. Another parent from Summer Stage Children’s Theatre shared that her child experiences a sense of belonging at Summer Stage. A community partner from Sellers Library described how the libraries work with UDAEF student volunteers, serve as collection points for the holiday toy drive, and gather donations for Murphy’s Giving Market.
Last updated July 10, 2026.
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