Press Release: 9 Schools Named Winners of up to $5,000 in Early Childhood Arts Education Scholarships From Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern PA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:   

Date: November 13, 2017

 PRESS CONTACT:

Denyce Mylson

Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania

609-243-9000 x202

[email protected]

9 Schools Named Winners of up to $5,000 in Early Childhood Arts Education Scholarships

From Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern PA 

Grants provide an array of high-quality arts education programming to young learners 

PRINCETON, N.J., November 13, 2017—Nine schools in New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania have been chosen to each receive up to $5,000 for Arts Education grants from Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania (YA). These grants were made possible through the generous support from donors who supported the Dazzle Fund-a-Need at YA’s annual Mad Hot Ballroom Gala. Through the grant, winning schools will experience extraordinary and inspiring performances and hands-on workshops delivered by YA’s team of professional teaching artists. Each customized program is developed to maximize students’ experiences with quality arts programs, provide opportunities to understand the cultural importance of the arts and creativity, and connect to classroom curriculum and their lives.

“We received an overwhelming response to our Early Childhood Arts Education Grants from communities throughout New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania,” said Michele Russo, President & CEO. “The nine winning schools are committed to providing arts-rich educational programs, but lack the funding to put them in place. We look forward to working closely with these schools to develop the kind of meaningful arts programming that will continue to enrich and inspire students’ creativity.”

“We are all thrilled at Livingston Park School to be selected as Young Audiences Scholarship recipients! We know the customized arts programs are colorful, meaningful, and first-rate,” shared art teacher Jennifer Peppe. “YA’s professional teaching artists are dynamically engaging and bring creative perspectives to both students and staff. As the art teacher, I feel honored to help bring more arts to our students and school community.”

Grant recipients will work with Young Audiences’ staff, and their roster of professional teaching artists, to plan quality arts programming tailored specifically for their schools’ arts education needs. Each recipient will receive funding for a variety of initiatives, including:

• professional arts performance for the entire school
• in-depth, hands-on arts residency for students with professional artists
• family arts and creativity experience for families
• teacher professional learning

The winning schools are:

• Child Family Center in Millville, NJ
• Eagleswood Elementary School in West Creek, NJ
• Washington Avenue School in Pleasantville, NJ
• Hudson Maxim School in Hopatcong, NJ
• James A Garfield Early Childhood Center in Garfield, NJ
• Livingston Park Elementary School in North Brunswick, NJ
• Piner Elementary in Lakewood, NJ
• Red Bank Charter School in Red Bank, NJ
• Fitler Academics Plus Elementary in Philadelphia, PA

“Red Bank Charter School is honored to receive this scholarship from Young Audiences, which allows us to continue our steadfast commitment to arts education despite our limited budget,” said the school’s Principal Meredith Pennotti. With this scholarship, our students will have the opportunity to engage in artistic endeavors which connect them to their culture and community.”

Ms. Davis, a teacher from US Wiggins College Preparatory Lab Family School and winner of the scholarship last year, shared, “Thank you for bringing these arts programs to our school. This has been such a wonderful and amazing experience for our young scholars. I am so glad to have formed a partnership with Young Audiences!”

For more information about YA’s Arts Education Scholarships visit https://www.yanjep.org, or contact Michelle Marigliano at Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania, at 866-500-9265 or [email protected].

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About Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania

Founded in 1973, Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania is the premier arts-in-education resource in the region, providing high-quality performances and artist-in-residence programs to schools in all 21 counties of New Jersey and the 7 easternmost counties of Pennsylvania. Young Audiences’ extensive professional artist roster represents all art forms—from dance and theater to music, language and visual arts. Since its founding, the organization has reached over 12 million children with essential arts education experiences.

A not-for-profit organization, Young Audiences’ programs are accessible to all socio-economic, ethnic, cultural, and geographic communities, and are designed to strengthen the arts in schools, meet local and state curriculum standards, involve families in arts activities, and enrich cultural life in New Jersey and Pennsylvania communities.

Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania is the first arts education organization designated as a major service organization by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and, as part of the national network of Young Audiences, Inc., was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Clinton. Young Audiences programs are made possible in part through a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State and Pennsylvania Council of the Arts. Additional funding comes from foundations, corporations and generous individuals. To learn more, visit www.yanjep.org. To be “social” with us, join us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @YANJEPA and on Instagram @young_audiences_njepa.