From the Desk of the Executive Director

Celebrating a Season of Extraordinary Generosity at Pearl Arts

This winter has been a season of remarkable generosity for Pearl Arts — a season that reminds us just how deeply our community believes in the power of creativity, learning, and belonging. As we continue to expand arts opportunities in music and sound technology for students of all ages, the Pearl Arts Board and I are deeply grateful and humbled by the individuals and foundations who have stepped forward with transformative support.

One of the most significant gifts in our organization’s history came from Larry Lee, President and Owner of Leepoxy Plastics here in Fort Wayne.  His extraordinary $4 million estate gift, with an additional $100,000 per year, will strengthen scholarship opportunities for students in the Fort Wayne Community Schools, providing support for music lessons and ensuring that cost is never a barrier for this community’s young people. Larry’s belief in our mission will echo for generations, and we are profoundly grateful for his vision and leadership.

We are also honored to recognize the generosity of the Ardelle and Theresa Glaze Foundation, as well as Scott, Melissa, and Lyndsey, who invested this past month into the Music Academy Scholarships for 2026.  In addition, I am grateful to the Waterfield Foundation and Howard Chapman for their generous gift for music scholarships.  Last week, we received the wonderful news from the O’Rourke-Schol Family Foundation that it is providing generous support for Music Ensembles and Camps.  My thanks to Mrs. Virginia Zimmerman, Lea Smith, Scott Glaze, and John and Helen Winger for their gifts this past month.

I also appreciate each one of you who participated in our February/Valentine’s “Love in Every Note” campaign.  I hope all of you will take a moment to read the article below and join with the donors who gave in memory of or in honor of a loved one.  We displayed a large heart with loved ones’ names throughout the Music Academy lobby for February, and the children here at Pearl Arts loved seeing and reading them.

So many great things are happening at Pearl Arts.  I hope you will take a part in our growth and development, surrounding our mission to make music accessible and affordable for the youth of our community.

Happy Spring!

Angie