Anthony Penna Charitable Fund Awards & Grants

The Anthony Penna Charitable Fund seeks to help offset the costs and fees associated with participation in band, choir, and theatre, thereby enabling students to partake in these programs when financial circumstances might pose a barrier. Grants are intended for the direct support of students and are not intended for capital expense items such as lighting, risers, sound systems, etc.

Open to schools in the state of Delaware who offer primary and secondary education, and relevant non-profit organizations, Grant requests may be made on behalf of schools, programs, or individuals. At this time, our fund structure only permits us to grant awards to other 501(c)(3) organizations.

Eligible costs may include but are not limited to:

• Sheet music, commissioned music or production scores

• Play script purchases or musical contracts

• Instrument lease or purchase costs

• Wardrobe or costume costs

• Student fees associated with private lessons, tutoring, or competitions

• Student travel expenses associated with band, choir, or theatre performances and trips

2024 - 2025 Grant Recipients

October 2024 — The Anthony Penna Charitable Fund is pleased to announce the 2024-2025 Grant Recipients, made this year in honor of James Joseph Hahn, who shared Anthony’s love of music. We are thrilled to see the creativity of requests this year, funding programs in band, theatre, music, and after-school programs. Congratulations to the following Recipients:

Aquinas Academy: Funding to support 2-3 Christmas plays that include the entire student body, and the Spring High School Play, which includes students from 6th-12th grade.

Archmere Academy: Funding toward their new summer on-camera acting camp for students in grades 6-12.

Boys & Girls Club of Delaware: Funding to support their summer program for high school youths combining music production, theatre, voice and dance elements.

Caravel Academy: Funding toward the purchasing of a new bass clarinet enhancing their band program.

Centreville Layton School: Funding toward their new Performing Arts Program including band, chorus and theatrical components.

Christ the Teacher Catholic School: Funding toward their partnership with Dancing Classrooms for ballroom dance instruction which fosters self esteem, confidence, self-awareness and cooperation in young students.

Nativity Preparatory School of Wilmington: Funding toward the implementation of the “HeArt Under the Hoodie” Youth Violence Prevention Program, an interactive after-school improvisational drama program.

Padua Academy: Funding toward the royalty costs for “Sister Act,” their full-scale musical planned for the spring of 2025.

Saint Edmond’s Academy: Funding toward the music score, licensing, and materials for their full production spring musical, “The Lion King, Jr.,” and lower form Christmas musical, “The First Christmas.”

Saint Mark’s High School: Funding toward the royalties and costuming for the production of Roger and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” in the spring of 2025.

Salesianum: Funding toward the participation fees for Cast, Crew, Orchestra, and Student Staff Members for their theatre program.

Serviam Girls Academy: Funding to support their growing theatre program, with two whole-school musicals planned in the coming school year.

St. Ann School: Funding toward their Honor Choir program, their theatre program’s production of “Godspell, Jr.,” their collaborative artist initiative, and recorders for their 3rd-5th graders.

St. Anne’s Episcopal School: Funding toward new instruments for their band and orchestra programs supporting their 4th-8th grade music programs.

St. Anthony of Padua Grade School: Funding for an electronic drum set to enhance and grow their music program.

St. Elizabeth School: Funding toward licensing, scripts and costumes for two large musicals performed by the Cedar Street Players, students in grades 3-8 and 9-12, with support provided by their high school tech and stage crews, incorporating whole-school involvement in the productions.

The Independence School: Funding toward the expansion of their Lower School program (K-3), which would introduce them to string instruments through the use of ukuleles.

The Tatnall School: Funding toward their Strings and Choral Programs to support their middle and upper schools.

Ursuline Academy: Funding toward choral dresses for the Upper School Choir.

Wilmington Christian School: Funding toward royalties associated with their full-scale musical incorporating their visual arts, band, choral and drama departments.

PAST GRANT RECIPIENTS

All Saints Catholic School
Archmere Academy
Boys and Girls Club of Delaware
Caravel Academy
Christ the Teacher Catholic School
Choir School of Delaware
Greater Newark Boys & Girls Club
Holy Angels School
Padua Academy
Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic School
Saint Edmond’s Academy
St. Elizabeth School

Anthony Penna AwardS Celebration 2018

December 2018: Six schools in our local community were the first to receive Grants from the Anthony Penna Charitable Fund: All Saints Catholic School, Archmere Academy, St. Elizabeth School, Tower Hill, Ursuline Academy, and Wilmington Christian School. They performed along with local talents Catherine Enslen, Sarah Rossi, Sydney Kenton and Frankie Frabizzio at our first Awards Celebration.

Please consider helping us support these programs and remove the barriers by making a Donation.