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

2025 - 2026 Grant Recipients

October 2025 — The Anthony Penna Charitable Fund is pleased to announce the 2025-2026 Grant Recipients. 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:

Aldersgate Youth Musical Program: Funding to support this year’s spring musical production of Seussical JR.

Aquinas Academy: Funding to support their growing school-wide theatre program, including Christmas and spring plays, and their new music program.

Archmere Academy: Financial support for select students’ travel expenses for the Stage Band’s annual performance trip, taking place in New Orleans this year.

Caravel Academy: Funding toward the purchase of a Yamaha Clavinova Grand Piano to benefit their chorus, band, and theatre programs.

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.

Holy Angels School: Funding toward their collaborative Drama program with St. John the Beloved School, which provides children from different schools the opportunity to bond and work together.

The Independence School: Funding toward their recorder program, including recorders and music books for the 3rd grade students, and support for the sheet music that will be used for the winter and spring concerts.

The Mastersingers of Archmere Academy: Funding toward the commissioning of an original piece by American composer Dr. Michael John Trotta, premiering in three parts in December 2026, December 2027, and December 2028.

Padua Academy: Funding toward rights and royalties for the their production of Newsies, along with support to bring their student set designer’s vision to life for the musical.

St. Ann School: Funding to enhance their music and theatre departments through live performances, musical instruments and curriculum resources, and their production of Seussical JR.

St. Anthony of Padua Grade School: Funding for boomwackers to enhance and grow their music program.

Saint Edmond’s Academy: Funding toward titles to enhance their band and choir libraries, and the rights, rental, royalties, materials, and costuming for their spring musical, Willie Wonka JR.

St. Elizabeth School: Funding toward licensing, scripts, costumes, and set design for their fall and spring productions performed by the Cedar Street Players, incorporating whole-school involvement in the productions.

St. John the Beloved School: Funding toward Annie JR, which will be their second production by their growing theatre department that has seen participation double since last year.

Saint Mark’s High School: Funding toward the royalties and costs pertaining to the production of Little Shop of Horrors by their program that has doubled in size over the past three years.

Salesianum School: Funding toward a lightweight sousaphone enabling participation in the marching band for beginner students.

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

The Tatnall School: Funding toward a set of new guitars and violin/viola rack supporting the long-term growth of their music program.

Ursuline Academy: Funding toward their school-wide musical production of Three Kisses, an adaption from a book written by Ursuline’s own Erin McNichol.

Wilmington Christian School: Funding toward production costs associated with their full-scale school-wide spring musical.

PAST GRANT RECIPIENTS

All Saints Catholic School
Aquinas Academy
Archmere Academy
Boys and Girls Club of Delaware
Caravel Academy
Centreville Layton School
The Choir School of Delaware
Christ the Teacher Catholic School
Greater Newark Boys & Girls Club
Holy Angels School
The Independence School
Nativity Preparatory School of Wilmington
Padua Academy
St. Ann 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 Awards Celebration.

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