The Billy Joel Foundation, led by recording artist Billy Joel and his wife Alexis Roderick Joel, has awarded $25,000 to The Carnegie, a community arts and theater organization in Covington.
The money will be used to support the organization’s music and music education programs in Northern Kentucky public schools, especially those that would otherwise be unable to fund music education programs. The exact schools that will benefit from the program have not yet been announced.
“The Carnegie’s in-school programming provides students with opportunities to
imagine, create and communicate in all art forms during the school day,” said The Carnegie’s Education Director Alissa Paasch in a press release. “Our programs challenge students to explore and express ideas through the arts to strengthen problem solving, perseverance, communication and pride.”
The donation from the foundation will serve as one of two major funding sources for The Carnegie’s arts education programs, the other being an annual fundraising concert called Suits That Rock, the most recent of which raised about $2 million, according to The Carnegie.
“The Carnegie’s in-school programming prioritizes student learning through creativity and self-expression and promotes the arts as must-have versus nice-to-have,” said the foundation’s Executive Director Cheri Walsh in the same release. “All teachers and students deserve access and opportunities in and through the arts. Billy, Alexis and The Joel Foundation are very proud to support The Carnegie’s music education programs throughout Northern Kentucky public schools.”