Over a million votes helped determine the 73 winning schools with grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000

Three schools in Florida are filled with Glee as they have been chosen among 73 schools nationwide to win a grant from the “GLEE Give a Note” campaign.  Dreyfoos School of the Arts, Howard Middle School, and Nob Hill Elementary each won a $10,000 grant to help preserve their music program.  Twentieth Century Fox Television, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) made the announcement on December 15, 2011.  The competition started in September and 73 schools nationwide were chosen to receive grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 to help save their struggling music programs.  As the economy continues to stumble, school music and fine arts classes have been the first to feel the impact with drastic budget cuts and the elimination of departments. The “GLEE Give a Note” campaign was created in an effort to support student arts programs and the teachings they provide.

The three grand-prize winning schools are: PS 48 Joseph R Drake in the Bronx, New York; Clark Montessori Junior and High School in Cincinnati, Ohio; and Phil Campbell High School in Phil Campbell, Alabama.  Each of those schools will be awarded $50,000 for their music and arts program.  Additionally, there were 10 first place prize grants of $25,000 and 60 second place prize grants of $10,000.

Students across the country sang their hearts out in their video submissions.  The eligible entries were posted on www.GleeGiveANote.com and put up for public vote for one month.  During this time, students drummed up support through grassroots efforts to win votes for their schools.  They reached out to their families, friends and communities and spread the word through Facebook, Twitter and local newsletters culminating in the receipt of over one million votes.   A panel composed of NAfME members then conducted a final round of judging and, together with the public vote, determined the winning submissions.

 Co-creator Ryan Murphy says ” ‘Glee’ has always been about the importance of arts education, [we] have felt strongly from the beginning that the show has a responsibility to give back.”  He also congratulated the winners and expressed how impressed he was with how talented these kids were.  He says music programs were incredibly important to him as he grew up, and hopes that ‘Glee’and initiatives like ‘Give a Note’ continue to demonstrate how much they mean to today’s kids.

If you would like to contribute, the campaign continues!  Glee: The Complete Second Season was released on Blu-ray and DVD on September 13th and $1 from every sale still goes towards the Glee Give A Note campaign.  Glee is a two-time Golden-Globe ® winner, and has been recently nominated for a third consecutive year for Best Television Comedy. 

The winning schools in Florida are:

— Alexander W Dreyfoos School of the Arts, West Palm Beach, FL

 — Howard Middle School, Ocala, FL

 — Nob Hill Elementary, Sunrise, FL

 For more information and to view the submissions, visit www.GleeGiveANote.com.