Music Matters Provides A Record $83,000 To Help Struggling Public School Music Programs
Fourth Annual Distribution of Funds Demonstrates Continued Need for Community Support for the Arts in Our Public Schools
Bellevue, Washington, May 2, 2016– The Music Matters Grant Committee, comprised of board members from Music Aid Northwest (MAN) and Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA) met on April 22 to review and approve a record number of funding requests from around Washington state. The committee approved twenty grant requests ranging from $1,200 to $6,327 for a total of $83,027.70.
Our 2016 Grant Recipients are Arthur Jacobson Elementary (Auburn), Castle Rock School District #401 (Castle Rock), Cle Elem HS/Walter Strom Middle School (Cle Elum-Roslyn), Columbia High School and Middle School (Columbia), East Valley Elementary, (East Valley), Granger Middle School (Granger), Hill Top School (Ocean Beach), Hockinson Heights Elementary (Hockinson), Ilwaco HS (Ocean Beach), Kalama Elementary (Kalama), Mossyrock School District (Mossyrock School District), Olympic Elementary (Chehalis), Olympic Middle School (Auburn), Onalaska High School (Onalaska), Pe Ell K-12 (Pe Ell), Rochester Middle School (Rochester), South Bend High School (South Bend), Wapato High School (Wapato), and Winlock Miller Elementary (Winlock).
The funding provided by Music Matters will help these schools purchase instruments, sheet music, choir risers, and music stands, and, in some instances, save the entire school music program from elimination.
Funding for the grants came from proceeds from the sales of Music Matters specialty license plate program as well as from ticket sales and individual donations from Music Aid Northwest’s annual Play it Forward Gala.
About Music Matters
Music Matters is a self-perpetuating fundraising program designed to support school music programs through sales of a distinctive music-themed license plate, available through the Washington State Department of Licensing. To purchase your own plate, or to learn more about the grant request process, please visit musicaidnorthwest.org.
About Washington Music Educators Association
The Washington Music Educators Association provides and promotes educational resources for music educators and students in our public, private schools and colleges. We also provide opportunities for teachers to improve their skills exist through conferences, in-service events and publications.
WMEA believes a good music education is a critical component of a basic education for all students.
Learn more about WMEA and apply for a grant at wmea.org.
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For more information, please contact Bob Tomberg at 425-957-0900 or email at [email protected].