Children's Education and Learning

The Sandler Center Foundation supports and manages several Impact Projects focusing on children's education and learning in the Coastal Virginia area:

IMPACT PROJECT:

Sandler Virtual Academy

THE NEED: Address catastrophic decline in test scores over the course of COVID and mental health challenges in Hampton Roads children in K-6^th Grades.

THE IMPACT: Providing digital programming that is aligned with SOLs (Standards of Learning), social and emotional, and STEAM focused along with corresponding curriculum guides to help teachers and students. This program has helped improve children's literacy and strengthen social and emotional learning for 35,000 children since it's inception in 2021.

MEASURING IMPACT: SCF participated in a nationwide study led by Purdue University in 2018 and 2019 with Virginia Beach City Public Schools to study the impact of the performing arts on children’s literacy. The results: Our student-focused programming impacts children's literacy levels positively across all socio-economic sectors.

IMPACT PROJECT:

Sandler Performances On The Road: Swan Lake (2024)

THE NEED: Hampton Roads Title I Schools do not always have access to buses, teachers and chaperones, or time in the academic calendar for a partial day field trip to the Sandler Center. Address catastrophic decline in test scores over the course of COVID in Hampton Roads children in K-6^th Grades.

THE IMPACT: Provides funding for the Richmond Ballet, The State Ballet of Virginia, to offer age-appropriate, in-school programming to students in grades K-5. Programs are SOL (Standards of Learning) aligned. Richmond Ballet provides all administration and scheduling.

MEASURING IMPACT: 15 performances will be offered in 2024 at area schools. Award grant on an annual basis through our partnership with the Richmond Ballet, which has been in existence since 2017. This program is made possible in part by a grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

IMPACT PROJECT:

Education Programs (In-Person)

THE NEED: A lack of live, in-person education-focused arts opportunities.

THE IMPACT: Provide dozens of in-person and interactive arts education opportunities at the Sandler Center, in the school setting, and in the community.

Recently funded programs include:

Lollipop Concerts (Symphonicity),

Chatauqua Summer Festival Series (Virginia Arts Festival)

Meet the Families (Virginia Symphony Orchestra)

Young People’s Concerts (Virginia Symphony Orchestra)

MEASURING IMPACT: Award grants on an annual basis. Program launched in 2018.

IMPACT PROJECT:

World-Class Performances for Students: Spring 2023 Mark Morris Dance Company’s “A Look of Love”

THE NEED: Students, especially underprivileged students, do not have the opportunity to view a live, in-person performance opportunity from world-class performers.

THE IMPACT: Providing an in-person, world-class performance opportunity for 200 underprivileged students at the Sandler Center.

MEASURING IMPACT: Award grant on an annual basis. Program launched in 2018.

In celebration of clearing skies and in anticipation of an even brighter future, the Sandler Center Foundation (SCF) is raising funds to advance children's education through the performing arts and help fund community arts organizations, including great performances at the Sandler Center.

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