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AthFest Partners with UGA to Create After School Orchestra Program

Howard Stroud Elementary

AthFest Educates is partnering with the University of Georgia Community School of Music for a special grant project at Stroud Elementary school. Over a three-year period, 36 students will participate in an afterschool orchestra. Jill Helme is Executive Director of the nonprofit.

"Being able to get your child to a private lesson or small group lesson after school is really challenging for a number of people, for a number of reasons. So, we wanted something that was definitely school-based so that the young people could go right at the end of the day from school. They could go to this program, and their families wouldn't have to worry about getting them there or the cost of getting them to participate."

AthFest Educates grants are typically limited to a maximum of $5,000, but the organization’s board of directors voted to use reserve funds for a much larger project. Helme says the funds cover every necessity for the students.

"One of the things that we said we were going to do with this grant, and are doing with this grant is that we are then providing transportation. We're going to work with CCSD and pay for the school bus to take the kids who are participating in the program home after that program. Their instruments will be provided, their method books will be provided, their instructors are going to be provided, and all students will have two lessons per week for 20 weeks out of the school year."

This program will cost $35,000, with a portion of the funding coming from 100 Women Who Care of Athens.

Alexia Ridley joined WUGA as Television and Radio News Anchor and Reporter in 2013. When WUGA TV concluded operations, she became the primary Reporter for WUGA Radio. Alexia came to Athens from Macon where she served as the News Director and show host for WGXA TV. She's a career journalist and Savannah native hailing from the University of Michigan. However, Alexia considers herself an honorary UGA DAWG!
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