The Penguin Project® is a National Foundation with chapters throughout the United States, and Altoona Community Theatre is proud to bring the project to central Pennsylvania. The goal of the project is to provide a supportive environment for children with disabilities to explore their creative talents.

The Foundation was created in 2004 by Dr. Andrew Morgan, Professor Emeritus of Clinical Pediatrics at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. Through his work, Dr. Morgan realized how children with special needs and their families often lack opportunities for community activities, sometimes making them feel isolated. Participation in the performing arts has specific therapeutic value in enhancing socialization, communication skills, and self-esteem, so he conceived the Penguin Project as a way for special needs children to be involved in an enriching social and creative outlet where their needs can be accommodated.