VH1 Save the Music Foundation and Sara Bareilles have chosen the winners of its inaugural “Keys + Kids” grants program, in which 10 K-12 schools have each won a piano grant worth $10,000.
“The piano has been a central instrument of my life, and that is largely thanks to music education programs I had access to in school,” Bareilles said in a statment. “It was an honor to partner with VH1 Save The Music to launch the Keys + Kids Program. I believe that arts education can change many young lives the same way it changed mine, and I’m so thrilled to have been a part of this program working to keep music in our classrooms any way we can.”
TheWrap was the first to report about the grant program back in March. Schools had to submit applications between March 10 and April 30. The applications were judged by a committee made up of members of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, VH1 senior staff and patrons of the Keys + Kids Leadership Circle.
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“We received an overwhelming number of applications to our Keys + Kids pilot program, demonstrating how important the piano is to music education programs in public schools,” said VH1 Save The Music’s Paul Cothran, executive director and vice president.
“Although the selection process was incredibly challenging, we are proud to announce the winners, which would not be possible without the help of our Keys + Kids Leadership Circle including: Avnet Inc., The Durst Organization, Houlihan’s Restaurants, The LEGO Children’s Fund, NAMM Foundation, Raymond Weil, William Hill Estate Winery, Shure Incorporated, Yamaha and countless individuals.”
The grant program will return next year.
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Without further ado, here are the inaugural “Keys + Kids” winners:
Calhoun County High School, St. Matthews, SC
Coit Creative Arts Academy, Grand Rapids, MI
Fair Haven K-8 School, New Haven, CT
Frances Willard Elementary, Kansas City, KS
Harding Senior High School, St. Paul, MN
Holston Valley Middle School, Bristol, TN
Malvern Elementary School, Malvern, AR
Morrill Elementary, San Antonio, TX
Richland Upper Elementary School, Richland, MS
Washington Elementary, Trenton, NJ