Farmingdale's D'Addario Foundation Launches Bridge Fund

Farmingdale NY

24 February, 2022

8:31 AM

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FARMINGDALE, NY — The D'Addario Foundation has launched the Bridge Fund, which is geared toward bridging the gap between access to music education and the Black community, the Farmingdale company announced. The gap between the two has been historically ignored, according to the foundation. The D'Addario Foundation has spent more than 40 years fighting to "overcome the decimation of music education in America's schools" by supporting music programs on a community level in an effort to break down barriers to entry and nurture youth development, mentorship, and leadership. Budget cuts over the past 25 years have disproportionately impacted school districts that serve students of color, immigrant students, and low-income communities, the D'Addario Foundation wrote. For those who would like to donate to the D'Addario Foundation's Bridge Fund, you may do so here. "The damaging consequences of COVID has only exacerbated the need to address the enormousgap in educational resources and opportunities," D'Addario Foundation Executive DirectorSuzanne D'Addario Brouder said via news release. "We honor the values and needs of communities by launching the Bridge Fund that very intentionally identifies and supports innovative, immersive, and accessible music programs in Black communities. In particular, we seek programs that take place after-school and are available multiple days per week - elements that very clearly contribute to higher levels of engagement and academic achievement as an actionable solution to 'bridging' this gap and giving every student a chance to reach their highest potential." Programs supported through the fund include the Sphinx Performance Academy (Detroit),Cleveland Institute of Music & Musical Pathway Fellowship (Cleveland), Buffalo String Works(Buffalo), Atlanta Music Project (Atlanta), HARPS Foundation (Richmond), CincinnatiSymphony Orchestra's Nouveau Program (Cincinnati), Project STEP (Boston), TheRoots of Music (New Orleans), Soulsville Foundation's Stax Music Academy (Memphis),West Point School of Music (Chicago), and more. One of the newest grantees who was awarded support from the Bridge Fund is West Point School of Music's Urban Music Makers program. It is a Black-led and Black serving band and steel drum program engaging urban youth through free in-school and after-school music instruction and performance. Their goal is to build bands at multiple schools that students will be proud to call their own. Every penny of donations goes directly to funding these programs, as administration costs areabsorbed by D'Addario. All programs aim to: All programs have been curated over decades based on their ability to deliver three things: inspiring a child's musical ability; lifting their self-worth; and elevating their academic performance. Contributing to the Bridge Fund can help lead children on a path to higher education and a more aspirational future, according to D'Addario Foundation.