CINCINNATI: The Educational Theatre Foundation (ETF) has announced the inaugural recipients of its Thespian Relief Fund. The first round of grants has awarded a total of $30,000 to 40 school theatre programs across the U.S.

Initial donations for the Thespian Relief Fund came from Project Sing Out!, a one-night livestreamed event conceived by Tony Award nominee and Thespian alum Hailey Kilgore. The July event raised funds to support arts education specifically in low-income communities and communities of color.

“Thanks to all involved in Project Sing Out! and many other donors who recognize the critical value theatre education has for all students,” said ETF president Julie Cohen Theobald in a statement. “Support is needed more than ever for schools to sustain their theatre programs through the pandemic.”

School theatre programs use box office proceeds to fund their next year’s productions. With canceled shows and budget cuts because of the coronavirus, ETF established the Thespian Relief Fund to provide financial support for school theatre programs at schools in most need. The grants awarded include  $500 grants for schools to start or renew a Thespian Troupe and cover lifetime fees for 10 students, and $1,000 grants to assist school theatre programs that have been negatively impacted by cancellation of events or loss of projected revenue.

Here are the recipients:

P. Davidson High School, Mobile, Ala.
Paul W. Bryant High School, Cottondale, Ala.
East Valley High School, Mesa, Ariz.
Arizona Agribusiness and Equine Center, Prescott Valley, Ariz.
American Canyon High School, American Canyon, Calif.
Carlsbad High School, Carlsbad, Calif.
Rangeview High School, Aurora, Colo.
McKinley Technology High School, Washington, D.C.
Lake Worth Community High School, Lake Worth, Fla.
Leto High School, Tampa, Fla.
St. Cloud High School, St. Cloud, Fla.
West Nassau High School, Callahan, Fla.
Newnan High School, Newman, Ga.
Rockdale County High School, Conyers, Ga.
Kipp Atlanta Collegiate, Atlanta
United Township High School, East Moline, Ill.
Rensselaer Central High School, Rensselaer, Ind.
Leavenworth High School, Leavenworth, Kans.
Ottawa High School, Ottawa, Kans.
Abramson Sci Academy, New Orleans
George Washington Carver High School, New Orleans
Harrison Community High School, Harrison, Mich.
Waconia High School, Waconia, Minn.
West Point High School, West Point, Miss.
Voorhees High School, Glen Gardner, N.J.
Santa Fe High School, Santa Fe, N.M.
Monroe-Woodbury High School, Central Valley, N.Y.
The Urban Assembly Bronx Academy of Letters, Bronx, N.Y.
Kings High School, Kings Mills, Ohio
U.S. Grant High School, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Governor Mifflin High School, Shillington, Pa.
Oakland Middle School, Murfreesboro, Tenn.
James Bowie Middle School, Richmond, Texas
A+ Academy Secondary, Dallas
Cedar Creek High School, Cedar Creek, Texas
Chavez High School, Houston
Northside High School, Houston
Wunderlich Intermediate School, Houston
Parkersburg South High School, Parkersburg, W. Va.
Capital High School, Charleston, W. Va.

Donations to support the Thespian Relief Fund can be made here.