Alicia Keys is turbocharged following reports of her alma mater’s struggles with finances and has decided to support the students’ performing arts programs.
The 43-year-old, Grammy winner, in addition to her label, Roc Nation, gave $60,000 to a GoFundMe set up by 7th grader Tennyson Artigliere to preserve the theater department at the Professional Performing Arts School (PPAS) in New York City.
Her contribution, on top of the $53,000 already raised, will enable the fundraiser to reach its $102,000 target, which is necessary to maintain the school’s affiliation with theater company Waterwell.
According to reports, Keys also informed Artigliere that she will keep up her fundraising efforts for the program until the city can provide funding.
“People couldn’t believe it when I told my class,” said 12-year-old Artigliere.
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A representative for PPAS informed the Daily News that other art partners are being considered, even though the funds raised are sufficient to keep the school’s partnership with Waterwell after the April 12 deadline.
In the upcoming weeks, the PTA and parent body of the school will cast votes on the distribution of the funds.
“My goal was to not only save my school but also make a difference,” Tennyson stated.
“I messaged my school group chat as soon as I got the email announcing the performing arts program’s cancellation. We discussed potential solutions. We wouldn’t consent to the program’s termination since it made so many students happy and united us.”
Alicia Keys’ cause is personal because she enrolled at PPAS at age 12 and signed with her first label not long after graduating.
Since then, Alicia has won 16 Grammy Awards. The most recent one was for the re-issue of her 2003 sophomore studio album, The Diary of Alicia Keys, which won Best Immersive Audio Album this year.
