Skip to main content

News & Events

News

Ukuleles Here. Ukuleles There. Ukuleles Everywhere.

photo of students and teacher with big check

The first time the Foundation–thanks to our donors–funded a set of ukuleles for 5th graders was way back in the fall of 2015. To give you an idea of how long ago that was, another grant funded that fall was for students to visit a King Tut exhibit. Remember King Tut?


That first set of ukuleles was housed at Breton Downs. Two years later, in the fall of 2017, the Foundation funded a second set, this time at Lakeside. And now, thanks to a grant requested by elementary music teacher Samantha Pugia, Wealthy Elementary 5th graders are getting a set of their own. 


“One of the first things Lakeside Elementary fifth graders asked me when they came into the music room and saw the ukuleles out was when they could play the ukulele,” Pugia wrote in her application. “Not a month goes by without a student asking if they can perform a song for me on the ukulele. When my Lakeside students had the opportunity to perform on the ukulele last year, their excitement was off the charts! Even students who are generally shy to participate in performing on an instrument could not wait to get their hands on a ukulele. They were beaming, sharing knowledge, and it was apparent how excited they were to learn. I want that for Wealthy Elementary students, as well. I want these students to learn the ukulele because it is such a fun instrument and I want to create a spark and strengthen their passion for music.”

  • Ray and Kristin Abraham
    Ray and Kristin Abraham
  • The Adamy Family
  • Sue and Marty Allen
  • The Bissell/Kruer Family
    The Bissell/Kruer Family
  • Dennis and Jennifer Bruce
    Dennis and Jennifer Bruce
  • Jason and Elizabeth Christopherson
  • Pat Connor
    Pat Connor
  • Nancy Cook
  • Damian and Sara deGoa
    Damian and Sara deGoa
  • Rick and Carol Godfrey
  • John and Deanna Green
  • The Iakiri Family
    The Iakiri Family
  • KV and Jena Lacks
  • Steve and Jenny McMahon
  • Dave Mehney
    Dave Mehney
  • Matthew Richenthal
    Matthew Richenthal
  • Elaine Rongey
  • SILVA
    SILVA
  • Beth Wells Skaggs
    Beth Wells Skaggs
  • Abby and Rich Sorota
  • Nick Thole and Amy Turner-Thole
    Nick Thole and Amy Turner-Thole
  • Charley and Janine Thompson
    Charley and Janine Thompson
MENU CLOSE