This year, PSHA awarded 67 gifts and grants totaling $630,000 to non-profit organizations, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, for music education, school music programs, instruments, music therapy, and underwriting concerts. Among the 67 awards were Arcadia, Monrovia and Temple City High Schools as well as Arcadia’s Performing Arts Center and many Pasadena groups.
“While it is a huge responsibility for the members of PSHA’s Gifts & Grants Committee to decide to which organizations to award funds, it is very rewarding to know that these organizations are doing their part to promote music and the arts, especially with regard to children and young adults, and particularly to those in under-served areas of our local communities,” said Gifts & Grants Chair Eileen Reilly.
About 180 guests were in attendance at this year’s reception. They were treated to classical music performed by an ensemble from USC Thornton School of Music’s Cardinal Winds made up of Catherine Baker (flute), Zach Pulse (oboe), and Alex Garcia (bassoon).
“It is an absolute privilege for us to play a small part in the work that these incredible organizations do in the community and it is profoundly motivating,” said Watkins. “Tomorrow, we will go back to work with their stories in mind, more determined than ever to be successful so that we can make even larger contributions in the future.”