2024 Grant Recipient - WES

Organization Statement: West End School is a scholarship-based independent school that provides a safe and structured environment for boys from pre-kindergarten through the 8th grade where academic rigor, character development, and responsible action establish the foundation for a purposeful life.

Major Recent Successes:

• West End School became a "Leader in Me" school this year, following the "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" to improve our students' confidence, organizational, and social-emotional skills.
• In February 2023, our music students were invited to play at Mayor Greenberg’s State of the City Address and at the American Bar Association Judicial Division Conference.

How this funding will impact this organization:  

West End School (WES) is a 100% free, scholarship-based private school for boys in Pre-K through 8th grade that offers its students music lessons. To increase on-site individual and small group instruction, the music program needs to expand. Music fosters creative expression and teaches students that hard work and discipline help achieve goals. In an impoverished area, on-site learning with accessible quality instruments is imperative. Due to rapidly growing demand, our music program needs additional staff, more instruments, and supplementary materials.

Keith Cook, our current music teacher, is a talented leader with 35 years experience as part of the Louisville Orchestra. We would like to continue to leverage his talent and expertise to guide the program. He will continue to be in charge of our music curriculum by setting the vision for our program, leading the orchestra and providing administrative support, but we need to provide him with more support. With an Impact100 Louisville grant, we can add a full-time teacher to provide individual lessons throughout the day; enroll more students; purchase additional instruments, curriculum, textbooks, and headphones; fund a traveling performers’ group to play at local and state venues; and add girls to the program in 2025.

Wish List: