The Greater Hazleton Concert Series (GHCS) received a $15,000 First Federal Charitable Foundation grant to support the organization’s Educational Outreach program, which provides music education and development activities to students in the Hazleton Area School District.
Many of the children the GHCS serves through its program are of multicultural origins and come from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Through its Educational Outreach program, the organization provides students with instructional performances, master classes, lecture-demonstration workshops, and side-by-side performances with artists and students performing together. Students who participate in the program are also invited to attend the evening concert, along with their parents, at no cost.
The GHCS uses funds to contract professional artists to provide the instruction for its Educational Outreach program. It plans to sponsor four outreach programs each season. Some performers provide study guides to supplement the time spent with students.
As a result of attending the program, many students have gone on to seek private instruction in instrumental or vocal music, theater and dance. Additionally, the GHCS annually presents four music awards for middle school students to continue or begin private studies in the arts.
The Greater Hazleton Concert Series is celebrating its 87th season in 2022-2023. It is the oldest cultural nonprofit in Greater Hazleton and has a membership of between 800 and 1,000 people. Its mission, in part, is to promote in the citizens of Hazleton and its surrounding area an interest in the performing arts and to foster and encourage appreciation of music and the performing arts in the schools of Hazleton and its surrounding areas. Its low subscription fee helps people who otherwise couldn't afford to travel to a large metropolitan area to experience a variety of high quality professional concerts in their own community.
The First Federal Charitable Foundation was established to support worthwhile community causes. It strives to nurture nonprofit institutions and programs that will effectively serve those in need from the community, empower nonprofit institutions and programs that will expand their presence in and services to the area, and promote opportunities for new nonprofit institutions and programs that will serve the unserved.
Nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) IRS designation that are located in Luzerne, Schuylkill, Carbon and Columbia counties are eligible to apply. Any organization whose headquarters is in another county but services either Luzerne, Schuylkill, Carbon or Columbia counties may apply for a grant to be used in one of those counties.
For more information on the foundation or to obtain a grant application, visit www.1stfederalcharitable.org or email