Six years ago, the KMEA Board decided to establish an endowed fund to offer scholarships to students, awards and grants to teachers, and provide an opportunity for people who want to financially support the future of music education in Kansas. We now have a total of over $92,000 in the KMEA Fund, enough to fully underwrite our existing scholarships and start developing new scholarships or grants. The KMEA Board is assigning a committee that will be developing guidelines for application and rewarding future grants. What an exciting time!

The Greater Salina Community Foundation is having its annual Match Madness event on March 8. This is an opportunity for your donation to be increased by (historically) over 40%. That is great for the KMEA Fund. Last year, we had over $3,000 added to the KMEA Fund with only nine people donating. I'm hoping for even more people taking advantage of this opportunity this year.

Here's how it works - you give me a check made out to "GSCF" with "KMEA Fund" in the memo line. It can be any amount from $1 up to $1,000. I will deliver all the collected checks on March 8 for the matching funds to apply. You can either mail them to me at Gayle McMillen, 801 S. 9th, Salina, KS, 67401, or hand them to me during the ISW.

You are always invited to further the legacy of the Kansas Music Educators Association by a donation to the Fund. Feel free to send a check designated for the "KMEA Fund" to our Executive Director, John Taylor, 614 N. Parkdale, Wichita, KS, 67212. If we all pitch in and support the KMEA Fund, we can even better serve Kansas' music students.