New Music Program for the Mathews Boys and Girls Club
The J. Edwin Treakle Foundation has funded, in part, with the William F. and Catharine K. Owens Foundation a new music program taking place at the Boys and Girls Club. Our instructors teach violin, guitar and piano weekly to 9 students. The Center has a piano and the Bay School provides a violin for Center use. Guitars are provided by the instructor. These students will continue through the school year.
The Virginia Commission for the Arts has again shown that the Bay School is an asset to the community by placing us in the PRIORITY 1 for funding. The dollar amount was lower than in the past, however, due to less state funding and more non-profits vying for the same pocket of dollars. This money will help cover overhead costs.
They have also awarded us their Local Government Challenge Grant of $5000. They match what the county government budgets for us. What a great program!
The William F. and Catharine K. Owens Foundation has awarded The Bay School with a grant of $16,000. This will again cover the direct costs (instructors and materials) of all but three of our community outreach programs. These programs are free to the participants. For a list of our programs, click here. Our programs would not be possible if we not for the Owens' Foundation.
The Mathews Community Foundation has awarded the Bay School $1000 toward 3 free art camps that took place during the weeks of July 14-17 (for ages 4-5), July 20-23 (for ages 6-9) and July 27 - 30 (for ages 10-14). Each week was taught by a professional teacher and accessed educational materials and themes from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. This program was targeted, originally, to children who were eligible for Federally reduced or free lunch, live in a household that made $40,000 or less or were eligible for Medicaid. After extensive searches and outreach were exhausted for qualifying children, the classes were then made open to the general public. Each class was not only based on art, but also involved history, language arts, and social studies.
We have received the generous gift from the County of Mathews of $5,000 for general operating expenses. To have support of our county government is of great importance, not only financially but moreso as a self-confidence booster!
The P. Buckley Moss Foundation for Children has awarded the Bay School $1000 towards the Free Week of Art held every year in August. This week is sponsored by the Mathews Woman's Club, who provide all of the volunteer help and the refreshments. They also provide a very nice reception for the parents and children who attend the art camp. 75 children ages 4-14 are able to attend at no cost. Rachel Cross-Morris, a middle school art teacher in Poquoson, VA, is the instructor for the week.
School Director, Kim Moore says that she believes it is the continuing growth of community programs and outreach that is fueling the increase in funding and the school’s reputation as a valuable contributor to the community. She adds that more and more community leaders are taking note and speaking out on behalf of the school.
