Published using Google Docs
2016 GRAMMY Signature Schools Selected PR Blurb 2016
Updated automatically every 5 minutes

2016 GRAMMY Signature Schools Selected

The GRAMMY Foundation announced today that 13 U.S. schools have been selected as GRAMMY Signature Schools for 2016 and have been awarded cash grants totaling $61,000. Created in 1998, the GRAMMY Signature Schools program recognizes top U.S. public high schools that make an outstanding commitment to music education during an academic school year.

Each of the 13 GRAMMY Signature Schools will receive a custom award and a monetary grant to benefit its music program. The top three schools are designated Gold recipients. The best of the Gold recipients is named the National GRAMMY Signature School and will receive $5,000. The two remaining Gold schools will each receive $3,500. Two additional GRAMMY Signature Schools recipients will each receive a grant of $2,500 to benefit their music programs. Eight schools will receive the Enterprise Award grant, which recognizes the efforts made by schools that are economically underserved. Each of the Enterprise Award schools will receive a grant in the amount of $5,500. The GRAMMY Signature Schools program is made possible in part through the generous support of the Ford Motor Company Fund.

The GRAMMY Foundation also presents the GRAMMY Signature Schools Community Award, an extension of the GRAMMY Signature Schools program in partnership with Brookfield Properties, Converse, Journeys, RBC Capital Markets, Hot Topic Foundation, and the Les Paul Foundation. Through this alliance, the GRAMMY Foundation identifies financially challenged public high school music programs to receive this award and a $2,000 grant. During the current fiscal year, approximately 150 schools to date have received the GRAMMY Signature Schools Community Award, with grants totaling $300,000.

"We created the GRAMMY Foundation's GRAMMY Signature Schools initiative to highlight the excellent work being done through music programs at public high schools across the country, and since 1999, we have provided more than $1.3 million to close to 300 schools," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Foundation. "We are proud to offer these financial resources to augment what are often limited budgets, so that teachers may continue to provide the enriching and lasting benefits of a musical education to their students."

"The Ford Motor Company Fund has been a longtime advocate for music programs in schools and our partnership with the GRAMMY Foundation has thrived because it matches financial support with excellence in music education," said Pamela Alexander, director of community development for Ford Motor Company Fund.

2016 GRAMMY Signature Schools:

2016 National GRAMMY Signature School ($5,000)

Woodbridge High School – Irvine, Calif.

2016 GRAMMY Signature Schools Gold ($3,500 each)

Douglas Anderson School of the Arts – Jacksonville, Fla.

Metea Valley High School – Aurora, Ill.

2016 GRAMMY Signature Schools ($2,500 each)

Allen High School – Allen, Texas

Orange County School of the Arts – Santa Ana, Calif.

2016 GRAMMY Signature Schools Enterprise Award ($5,500 each)

Belgrade High School – Belgrade, Mont.

Boston Arts Academy  – Boston

Charyl Stockwell Preparatory Academy – Brighton, Mich.

Florin High School – Sacramento, Calif.

Pearl-Cohn Entertainment Magnet High School – Nashville, Tenn.

Phil Campbell High School – Phil Campbell, Ala.

Portland High School – Portland, Maine

Spring High School – ­­Spring, Texas