$40,000 goes to Pennington Elementary School in Wheat Ridge | Arts & Culture

Pennington Elementary School students will think it’s Christmas morning when they open up $40,000 worth of musical instruments to play them for the first time.

The school received a Mr. Holland’s Opus grant that donates new and refurbished musical instruments to underserved schools nationwide, in an effort to give youngsters the many benefits of music education, help them to be better students and inspire creativity and expression through playing music. More information can be found at www.mhopus.org.

“These instruments for every fifth and sixth-grader in our school will help us with a bigger enrichment package for students in our school,” said Principal Sandy Craig.  “Many of our students don’t have access to art and music programs, so this allows us to address the whole child.”

Nearly 70 Pennington students will get two hours of art and music enrichment, two times a week.

In attendance will be lead singer Isaac Slade from The Fray; Steve Blatt from Colorado Public Radio; Lisa Rucker from The Anschutz Foundation; Tricia Steel from The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation; Superintendent Cindy Stevenson, Jeffco Public Schools.

The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation partnered with Colorado Public Radio, along with support from The Anschutz Foundation, to give this grant to Pennington.

Press Release