Fund II Foundation Grants $3 Million to Sphinx Organization
Largest grant in Sphinx’s history will empower musicians, leaders and entrepreneurs of color
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact
Afa Dworkin 734-320-4105 | Afa@SphinxMusic.org
DETROIT – The Sphinx Organization today announced that it has received the largest grant in its history, $3 million from Fund II Foundation in support of leadership and development programs for classical musicians, arts administrators and cultural entrepreneurs of color.
Fund II Foundation’s mission is dedicated to preserving the African-American experience, safeguarding human rights, providing music education, preserving the environment while promoting the benefits of the outdoors and sustaining critical American values.
“As a long-time supporter and advocate of Sphinx, it was both crucial and personally meaningful for me to ensure long-term sustainability for these programs,” said Fund II President Robert F. Smith, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners.
“Sphinx Organization’s mission has multiple points of alignment with the purpose of Fund II Foundation,” said Linda Wilson, executive director of Fund II. “Sphinx has an exemplary record of grooming, mentoring and guiding the placement of outstanding musicians and administrators of color in some of the nation’s top music programs and orchestras.”
The gift will bolster Sphinx’s work in the spheres of leadership, entrepreneurship, career development and professional empowerment. “We are humbled and deeply grateful for this incredible support from Fund II Foundation, especially at such a critical time for the arts and social justice,” said Afa S. Dworkin, President and Artistic Director, Sphinx Organization.
Founded by Aaron P. Dworkin in 1997 with the mission of transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts, Sphinx Organization aims to empower social change with programs spanning education initiatives, scholarships, touring ensembles and more.
Sphinx’s fastest-growing focus area is arts leadership, according to Afa Dworkin. “The increasing urgency of Sphinx’s work has led to a tremendous rise in demand surrounding career on-ramping programs for Black and Latinx classical musicians,” added Dworkin. “The impact of this grant will be immense and widespread; we predict a reach of more than 150,000 constituents through programs augmented by the funds.”
One such program is SphinxConnect, the epicenter for artists and leaders in diversity – an annual convening that brings together musicians, arts leaders, educators, funders, diversity advocates and administrators.
“Attending SphinxConnect was incredible,” said 2018 SphinxConnect Fellow Alexander Pualani. “I teach 95 classical music students of color, so the insights and ideas I gained from the conference not only changed my life, but each of their lives, as well. The strengthening of programs like this will truly create a ripple effect for countless more lives to be transformed.”
About Sphinx Organization
Now in its 22nd year of championing Black and Latinx classical musicians across the nation and globally, the Sphinx Organization is dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts. The Sphinx ethos lies at the intersection of social justice and the arts, driving industry-leading programs spanning education initiatives, annual competition and scholarships, professional performance opportunities, and leadership training and career development. From the beginning violin students in Detroit and Flint elementary schools to the extraordinary recipients of the $50,000 Sphinx Medals of Excellence, Sphinx empowers musicians of color to succeed onstage and off. Visit SphinxMusic.org for more information.
About Fund II Foundation
Fund II Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization established in 2014 for the purpose of making grants to public charities in five areas: 1) preserving the cultural richness of the African-American experience; 2) safeguarding human dignity by giving voice to the voiceless and promoting human rights; 3) conserving the environment, promoting the benefits of the great outdoors to people of all ages and backgrounds; 4) affording music education to nourish both talent and the soul; and 5) sustaining the American values of entrepreneurship.
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