Athletics and arts grants available for high schools

The Alabama Power Foundation’s Power to Play grant program returns today for its fourth year of helping Alabama high schools increase students’ extracurricular participation. The program, which offered athletics grants in its first two years, expanded its focus last 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 show 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.

“Extracurricular activities are so important,” said Myla Calhoun, president of the Alabama Power Foundation. “Power to Play’s popularity year after year highlights the fact that there is a very real need to help schools offer a range of arts and athletics programming. The Alabama Power Foundation is proud to help fill that need and support Alabama’s students in their creative and athletic endeavors.”

Public high schools with 50 percent or more of their students 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 Friday, Oct. 27. Grant applications will be reviewed by a foundation committee.

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 nonratepayer dollars.