Igniting Creativity and Artistic Expression
The Decatur Education Foundation’s arts and music grants fuel creativity and inspire artistic expression for the next generation of artistic visionaries.
With the support of Zara’s Fund, the Decatur Education Foundation is spearheading arts-infused education programs throughout the City Schools of Decatur. We collaborate with teachers and visiting artists to engage students across the curriculum, and this holistic approach accommodates diverse learning styles, nurtures innovative thinking, establishes meaningful connections between subjects, and sharpens essential problem-solving skills. In 2023-2024, DEF is proud to partner with PaintLove for fiber arts residency programs at Talley Street and Fifth Avenue (FAVE) Upper Elementary Schools. Zara’s Fund honors the luminous spirit of Zara Yee Hawthorne, a beloved kindergarten student in the City of Decatur who left a lasting impact before her passing in 2013.
Please consider a donation to Zara’s Fund today. Your support not only serves as an investment in arts education but also as a tribute to the profound significance of creativity and the arts.
Established by Decatur parents and Louisiana-natives Emily and David Berg, the Mead Road Mardi Gras has donated over $35,000 to DEF to fund music and arts grants in the City Schools of Decatur. Over the years, these grants have purchased musical equipment for almost every school in the district, including instruments and sheet music for the Beacon Hill Middle School band, West African drums for F.AVE, ukuleles for Talley Street, and a portable amplifier for Decatur High School. In 2023-2024, DEF’s music grants are supporting a bucket Taiko drum ensemble at Oakhurst Elementary and a diverse collection of music-centric literature for every elementary school in CSD.
Donate online today to support music education! With your generous contributions, we can make sure that the music never stops for Decatur students!