Lighting The Way

While a performing arts high school in South Florida might seem like a strange place to find a program funded by the Amy Winehouse Foundation, the late British singer actually had family in Boca Raton and spent vacations here growing up.

She even sang on stage for the first time in Highland Beach at the age of 12.

In her memory, the foundation supports programs that keep children away from the destructive effects of drugs and alcohol and help underprivileged youth achieve their full potential.

For musically gifted students without financial means at A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, the Amy's Light program will help show them the way. Although Dreyfoos is a public school, pursuing a musical education can still be expensive.

"The students at Dreyfoos, in order to compete and to keep up with their peers, usually need to take outside music lessons; or, in musical theater, it might be voice lessons or dance lessons," says Dreyfoos School Foundation Executive Director Kris Lidinsky. "Those things that would help them progress with musical theater."

The program began with an initial donation of $50,000 in August 2016 and distributes up to $35,000 annually to help students with needs big and small.

"The fund helps students pay for music lessons, go on trips with the music department and helps with funding summer institutes, and we've even done basic things like food and even a computer for a student who was in need," says Lidinsky. "Basically, whatever they need."

From $50 to get into the school's end-of-year Grab Bash party to $2,500 for a viola, Amy's Light will help support students as long as they can demonstrate financial need.

"The whole idea of this program is to try to give all of the students an even playing field so they're on even footing with other students who might have more financial abilities," Lidinsky says. "So everybody feels like they are able to do what they need to do to participate." O

For more information, visit soafi.org.