United Way turns up music for schools

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT-MESA -- Three Costa Mesa schools have been awarded $100,000 by

the United Way of Orange County to fund after-school band programs.

What began as an off-the-cuff idea by Orange County Philharmonic board

member Kim Grubman has in just six months become a grant that will

provide Davis Education Center, Rea Elementary School and TeWinkle Middle

School about $31,000 each to improve or begin after-school band programs.

“I honestly and truly believe in my heart that this program can save

lives,” Grubman said. “If these students have a program that they can go

to, an instrument they can play instead of going home and being alone, it

gives them something to be a part of.”

For the schools’ administrators, who have been trying to enrich the

lives of students on meager budgets for years, it is a godsend.

“I firmly believe that students who have a connection to school

through music, arts, sports -- that they get more out of school,” said

Cheryl Galloway, principal at Davis, where a band exists for students who

can afford to buy their own instruments. “And now there won’t be any kind

of bar they have to leap over. I’m so excited about it.”

While Davis plans to purchase instruments and increase its

after-school band, there has been talk of creating a Mariachi band at

Rea, and TeWinkle will begin an after-school guitar club and a stage

band.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” said Sharon Fry, principal at TeWinkle. “I

guess it goes back to my philosophy of what a middle school should offer

students in terms of new areas and endeavors.”

There are five goals the district expects to achieve with the program,

said Lisa Overholt Dillon, program improvement coordinator for

Newport-Mesa.

With “Kids and Music: A Recipe for Success,” district officials hope

to see improved grades and attendance among participating children,

higher levels of self-confidence, a greater sense of connection and

involvement with their schools, improved discipline and a greater

appreciation for music.

“Our goal was to link music with academic success and self-esteem when

we wrote the grant,” Dillon said.

In addition to the funding from the United Way, the philharmonic will

support the programs with professional assistance when students prepare

to put on concerts.

While the grant is a single commitment of $100,000, Grubman said other

possible sponsors have already shown interest.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” she said. “If we can make this

happen and happen quickly, what’s next?”