Alabama Power Foundation’s Power to Play grant program returns today for its third year of helping Alabama high schools increase students’ extracurricular participation. The program, which offered athletics grants in its first two years, expands its focus this year to include the arts.

Power to Play will award up to 36 grants of $2,500 each to schools throughout the state. Up to 18 of those grants will go to athletics programs and up to 18 will go to arts programs.

Studies prove that students who participate in athletics perform better in the classroom and are more likely to graduate from high school, among other benefits.

Involvement in arts and music courses has been linked to higher standardized test scores, improved graduation and attendance rates and fewer disciplinary infractions.

“Power to Play’s athletics grants have been very successful and popular with high schools across Alabama, and we are excited to expand the program’s reach this year to include the arts as well,” said Myla Calhoun, president of the Alabama Power Foundation. “Extracurricular involvement is so important in the development of engaged, well-rounded students. We hope that diversifying this program will help us positively impact many more students.”

Public high schools that have 50 percent or more of their students who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches can compete for Power to Play grants. There are separate applications for arts grants and for athletics grants.

Power to Play grant applications are available now through Oct. 28. Grant applications will be reviewed by a foundation committee, which is a change from the online voting platform of previous years.

To learn more or to apply for a Power to Play grant, please visit www.powerofgood.com.  

Since its creation in 1989 with funds donated by shareholders, the Alabama Power Foundation has supported Alabama communities, educational institutions and nonprofits through more than 20,000 grants and scholarships using non-ratepayer dollars.