The E.K. Sloane Fund of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation has awarded the Norfolk State University Foundation, Inc. a $45,000 grant to purchase a Yamaha C7 piano with bench and cover for the Little Theatre, which is located in G.W.C. Brown Memorial Hall.
“Norfolk State University is honored to be the recipient of a grant from the E. K. Sloane Fund,” said Kim Luckes, Acting President of Norfolk State University. “The addition of the Yamaha piano to the Little Theatre’s holdings will enhance the theatrical productions being presented. Our students and the community will truly benefit from this opportunity.”
The E.K. Sloane Fund provides grants for nonprofits to purchase or repair pianos. The fund was established by Norfolk native Edwin K. Sloane after his death in 1997. He was an engineer and philanthropist who bestowed numerous pianos upon arts organizations and colleges during his lifetime.
Previous grant awards from the Sloane Fund include $77,000 to purchase a Steinway concert grand piano for the L. Douglas Wilder Performing Arts Center in 2003, and $41,000 to purchase two pianos for the music department.
The Sloane Fund’s primary intent is to provide superior quality pianos for concerts by established, professional, cultural organizations or educational institutions whose primary purpose is to train professional musicians. Organizations applying for grants should seek to inspire a passion for classical music among a broad segment of the public through public performances or the education of young people.
The Hampton Roads Community Foundation is a regional community foundation and the largest grant and scholarship provider in southeastern Virginia. Since its founding in 1950, it has provided more than $152 million in grants and scholarships to improve life in southeastern Virginia.
For more information about the Hampton Roads Community Foundation, visit www.hamptonroadscf.org.
