Flagstaff, AZ (March 28, 2023) – The FUSD Foundation (the Foundation) is once again the charitable partner to the Flagstaff Blues and Brews Festival this June 9th and 10th. After last year’s successful event, raising $22K+, the Foundation board of directors established a music fund in the name of the Festival’s founder, Debbi Grogan, who passed away. The Debbi Grogan Music Memorial Fund granted all of that money raised to FUSD music teachers and programs across the Fall of 2022.
In the case of the music fund, music teachers around the district applied for the grant money for very specific needs to enhance or improve their music programs within the schools. The foundation was able to have a broad array of impact this past school year. Examples include paying for much needed equipment at Mt. Elden Middle School and sending a Cromer Elementary 3rd grade class to the Flagstaff Symphony where they played the music the class created.
Jennifer Grogan, the new 2023 Foundation President and Flagstaff Blues and Brews Festival owner and producer and Debbi’s daughter, shared “Last year we were thrilled to have raised over $22,000 and established the memorial fund in the name of my mom who built this festival. She loved music and the ability to enhance music education was a passion of hers. The Festival and the Foundation partnering together is the answer to expanding music programs within FUSD and we’re excited to do it again this year and raise even more money for our teachers and students.”
In addition to being the Festivals’ charitable partner, the Foundation Board members are seeking new ways to supplement all their programs including the music fund and the micro-grant fund which is focused on all innovative programs proposed through the grant application system. Help from outside sources can help increase the amount of money raised for FUSD educators and students as well as enhance the projects in terms of longevity of certain programs and how many student lives that can be positively changed.
If you’re a local business owner who would be interested in learning more about the types of projects and programs that are often funded through the foundation’s grant program, contact [email protected]. We invite anyone to join us at the Festival on Friday June 9th and Saturday June 10th and help support music programs in our public schools. Tickets can be purchased here: https://flagstaffblues.com.
If you have any questions about the FUSD Foundation overall, including the Debbi Grogan Music Memorial fund or the micro-grant program, contact Heather Pierce at 602-421-1899 or [email protected].
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Established in 2005, the Flagstaff Unified School District Foundation enhances the educational experience of FUSD students with the help and support of alumni and community resources. The Foundation is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Leadership is provided by a volunteer board of directors made-up of dedicated community members. Since 2015, the Foundation has developed the Teacher Innovation Fund, the Micro Grant Fund, and Debbi Grogan Music Memorial Fund. Through these programs they’ve distributed nearly $105,000 and supported 90+ programs across the district.
