The NAMM Foundation and Disney Channel Announce Second Round of Grant Recipients

The NAMM Foundation and Disney Channel today announced the recipients of “Disney’s High School Musical: The Music in You Grant Program” that encourages middle and high schools across the U.S. to put on their own school stage production of Disney’s “High School Musical.”

This is the second year that the two organizations have teamed to support this public affairs initiative, which is designed to utilize the popularity of the “High School Musical” movies to encourage kids to get involved in music and the arts in school.

The ten grant award winners are:

-Brooklyn Theater Arts High School, Brooklyn, NY
-Bucyrus High School, Bucyrus, OH
-Carver Edisto Middle School, Cope, SC
-Mt. Zion High School, Jonesboro, GA
-Mather High School, Chicago, IL
-Necedah High School, Necedah, WI
-Parkway Middle School, Kissimmee, FL
-Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy, Saginaw, MI
-South Dade Middle School, Homestead, FL
-Troy Middle School, Plainfield, IL

The grant program supports a $5,000 monetary grant and school license to produce an adapted version of “High School Musical.” The funds are to support music and arts-related educational costs of the production such as hiring music and dance coaches, and to help schools that do not have sufficient lighting and sound equipment for the production.

“For the NAMM Foundation, the collaboration with the Disney Channel creates a wonderful opportunity for kids to be involved in music and the arts—activities that are subject to budget cuts in public schools across the United States,” said Mary Luehrsen, executive director of the NAMM Foundation. “Participating in theatrical productions like these can be life-changing experiences for young people.”

In 2007, the NAMM Foundation and Disney Channel teamed up to create projects supporting the public affairs initiative, which included "High School Musical:  The Music in You," a "documusical" that chronicled a school theater production of “High School Musical" in Fort Worth, Texas.  Additional joint initiatives were “The Music in You” micro Web site featuring interactive music and arts activities; public service announcements encouraging students to get involved in music and arts and communities to invest in more performing arts opportunities for kids; and a series of interstitials illustrating students involvement in the arts as part of their core curriculum.  The interstitials were presented on Disney Channel, DisneyChannel.com and Radio Disney.

“We want to thank and applaud all of the schools that applied for the grant program,” said Adam Sanderson, senior vice president, Brand Marketing, Disney ABC Networks Group. “We applaud their continued support for music and arts education activities, which allow kids to express their talent, imagination and creativity.”

About Disney Channel
Disney Channel is a 24-hour kid-driven, family inclusive television network that taps into the world of kids and families through original series and movies. Currently available on basic cable in over 97 million U.S. homes and to millions of other viewers on Disney Channels around the world, Disney Channel is part of the Disney-ABC Television Group. DisneyChannel.com, is the #1 entertainment Web site among Kids ages 6-14.

About Radio Disney
Radio Disney is the No. 1 destination for kids, tweens and families on the radio. It is available in  the U.S. on over 49 terrestrial radio stations and on: RadioDisney.com, XM and Sirius satellite radio, iTunes Radio Tuner, XM/DIRECTV and mobile phones. Kids, tweens and families can also download Radio Disney programming via the iTunes Music Store.

About The NAMM Foundation
The NAMM Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to advancing active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs from the international music products industry. For more information, visit www.nammfoundation.org.