For over thirty-five years, Donna Davenport has devoted her time and energy to educating children through the fine arts. Born with curvature of the spine, as a child she endured the pain and discomfort of a back brace. Convinced that dancing could provide therapy that might ease the constant pain, her parents enrolled her in ballet lessons, which continued for the next 13 years.

In 1965, the priest in her parish asked her to organize a dance performance for the elderly and the shut-in. These performances continued every year for the next eight years.

In September of 1977, Ms. Davenport founded the FieldCrest School of Performing Arts. Class offerings were limited and total student enrollment was ten. In September of 2004, over 250 students enrolled in a wide variety of classes including various levels of dance, modeling and acting. Possessing a Bachelor's Degree in Education, Ms. Davenport has remained active with a variety of organizations and boards that focus on the fine arts.

Some of these organizations include the Illinois Arts Council, Dance Educators of America, Illinois Arts Alliance, Arts and Business Council, Southland Scholarship Foundation and the Young World Talent Foundation.

In 1996, the local chapter of Zeta Phi Beta sorority name her "Woman of the Year."

In January 1993, "The Children's Dance Theater Chicago" was established. Over the past eleven years, we have partnered with Michael Reese Hospital, The Children's Museum, Lucent Technologies, Bank One, and the Chicago Historical Society. Further, The Children's Dance Theater Chicago was invited to perform at Walt Disney World in Florida as well as for the Oprah Winfrey Show.

In October of 2000, Ms Davenport founded the Southland Scholarship Foundation. The Southland Foundation is the Children’s Dance Theater’s scholarship division.

It is committee to three goals:

A] To provide youths with opportunities for cultural experience and exposure to creative and performing arts, and community service.

B] To raise funds, which are contributed to selected students who are pursuing careers in the fine arts.

C] To bring together youth with ambitions and potentialities.