Grants Add Rhythm to Music Education

This fall, $111,975 was awarded in Farny. R. Wurlitzer Foundation Fund grants to support music education. Recipients include 27 nonprofits and community organizations across the Midwest region of the United States, including some located in DeKalb County, IL. As a donor advised fund established at the DeKalb County Community Foundation, the Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation Fund provides grants to further music education.

“It’s an honor to work with the Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation Fund Board of Advisors to continue to ‘mean music to millions’ and to keep the Wurlitzer name alive in DeKalb County”, said Community Foundation Program Director Anita Zurbrugg.

Spring 2018 grant applications are available online after January 1. Grant applications are due on March 1 and September 1 of each year. The Wurlitzer Foundation Fund Board of Advisors reviews each application for funding support. Preference is given to 501(c)3 organizations in DeKalb County and the broader Chicago metropolitan area.

Fall 2017 Wurlitzer Foundation Fund grants awarded:

· Arcomusical NFP – DeKalb County – received $4,000 for general operating support
· Casa Central – received $4,000 to offer El Cuarto music classes in the Casa Central Adult Wellness Center
· Chicago Children’s Choir – received $5,000 to support choral programs in 2017-18 program year
· Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble – received $5,000 to support “Books Alive!” program in schools
· Chicago Human Rhythm Project – received $3,000 to support the music components of CHRP’s education, outreach and performance programming in 2018
· Chicago Jazz Philharmonic – received $5,000 to support “Jazz Alive” in school program
· Chicago Opera Theater – received $5,000 to support Opera for All program during the 2017-18 school year and for the Young Artists Program
· Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras – received $5,000 to support the orchestra’s programs
· Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation – received $3,000 to support vocal music programming
· Christ the King Lutheran Church and School – received $4,000 to support the music program
· Classical Kids Music Education – received $5,000 to bring a week of educational activities and the hit theatrical concert production “Beethoven Lives Upstairs” to underserved students in Chicago Public Schools
· DeKalb Public Library – received $5,000 to purchase music and recording equipment for sound studio
· DuPage Children’s Museum – received $2,500 to help support our Tiny Great Performances series that provides children with an opportunity to experience a live, engaging, and enriching artistic performance
· Foundations of Music – received $5,000 for general operating support
· Fulcrum Point New Music Project – received $5,000 for general operating support
· Genoa-Kingston CUSD 424 – received $3,275 to purchase acoustic shells for performance venue
· Glenwood Academy – received $3,500 to purchase musical instruments and musical software
· Grace Christian Academy – received $4,800 to provide band lessons
· Little Kids Rock – received $5,000 for general operating support
· Maywood Fine Arts Association – received $3,000 for the “Aspiring Musicians” scholarship program
· Northwestern Medicine Hospice, DeKalb – received $5,000 to support music therapy for hospice patients
· Snow City Arts Foundation – received $7,500 to support standards based music education at Chicago area hospitals
· St. Peter Lutheran School – received $2,400 to purchase drums for K-5 students
· The Chicago Philharmonic Society – received $5,000 for general operating support
· Third Coast Baroque – received $2,000 for general operating support
· Urban Gateways – received $3,000 to support Four Layer Players Drumline Ensemble after school program
· Walther Christian Academy – received $2,000 to repair band instruments

The DeKalb County Community Foundation is proud to continue the mission of the former Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation to support music education. If you would like to support creative arts in your community, please contact Executive Director Dan Templin at 815-748-5383 or dan@dekalbccf.org.

Image caption: As a Wurlitzer Foundation Fund grant recipient, Arcomusical, based in DeKalb, advocates the awareness and artistic advancement of the Afro-Brazilian berimbau and related African musical bows.