Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County, a multidisciplinary school of the arts in Bridgeport, CT, received a $20,000 grant from The Music Empowers Foundation to fund a new music program at the school.
The Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County, founded in 1977, received a $20,000 grant from The Music Empowers Foundation. The multidisciplinary school of the arts provides music and arts education to more than 1,500 talented, but economically disadvantaged students, and children with special needs.
The Music Empowers grant will fund a new program called The Community Music Project that will expand musical offerings at Neighborhood Studios while increasing opportunities for community performances and engaging entire families through the use of contemporary and ethnically relevant music.
“Neighborhood Studios is excited to partner with Music Empowers on the new Community Music Project,” says Frank Derico, executive director of Neighborhood Studios. “The program will provide music ensembles for the Greater Bridgeport area, including Garage Band 101, rock and pop bands for middle school students, and Latin and African music ensembles for families.”
Bridgeport, CT is one of the most economically disadvantaged cities in the U.S. More than 95 percent of public school children qualify for free or reduced cost school lunches.
“If it weren’t for [Neighborhood Studios], music education for Bridgeport public school children would be extremely limited,” says Andy Davis, founder of Music Empowers Foundation. “Neighborhood Studios is a perfect match with Music Empowers’s mission of supporting organizations that provide music education programs where none exist and where they are most needed.”
ABOUT MUSIC EMPOWERS FOUNDATION:
The Music Empowers Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit that provides financial support to nonprofits that offer music education programs to communities with limited or nonexistent programs. Since its inception in early 2010, it has awarded over half a million dollars in grants to organizations such as DonorsChoose.org, Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, Little Kids Rock, Neighborhood Studios, and Artists Corps of America. For more information on Music Empowers, visit musicempowersfoundation.org, become a fan on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.
