Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic Awards over $60,000 to local Coachella Schools for Covid-19 Relief

Palm Desert, CA - Palm Springs Friends of Phiharmonic (PSFP), a nonprofit organization serving the Coachella Valley from more than 45 years, has awarded over $60,000 in grants through their special Emergency Music Grant Fund to support music education in local schools during the pandemic.

The PSFP Board of Directors decided that in lieu of their typical season of world-class concerts that was postponed due to the pandemic, they would instead create a one-time Emergency Music Grant Program.  The purpose of the grant program is to help alleviate some of the financial burden that local school music curriculums are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Of the $60,000 awarded, over $45,000 went towards the purchase of musical instruments and the balance will be used for musical instruction and technology.   The Coachella Valley includes three different school districts: Coachella Valley School District ($18,000), Palm Springs Unified School District ($23,500), and Desert Sands Unified School District ($19,672).  

"The value of incorporating music into a child's education cannot be understated.  There is clear evidence that an education rich in music not only improves students' cognitive function and academic performance but also teaches important soft skills such as teamwork, perseverance, and discipline.  Simply put, children learn better when music is part of their school curricullum.  We are grateful to the PSFP for this special opportunity" said Karen Cornett a member of the Palm Springs Unified School District Board of Education.

The Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic (PSFP) is one of the world's premiere concert presenters of classical music providing an annual series of internationally acclaimed symphony orhcestras to the Coachella Valley and surrounding areas.   In addition, PSFP fosters music appreication for hundreds of local youths and encourages promising young musicians through scholarship, education and instrument donation programs.

Photo Bobby Duke Middle School

(Coachella, CA)

For more information please go the www.psfp.org