Montgomery County

PHILADELPHIA, April 21, 2009 — The Philadelphia Music Project (PMP), a program of The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, has awarded $1,179,675 to 19 local music organizations in support of 118 concerts and residency programs spanning traditional and contemporary forms of classical, jazz, and world music. This year's grants will make possible world premiere performances of 15 new compositions and Philadelphia premieres of 61 additional works. In all, nearly 1,000 instrumentalists, conductors, vocalists, and composers will participate in these funded projects; 12 ensembles and soloists will make their Philadelphia debuts.

The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region announced today that its Neighbors in Need Fund is awarding $455,000 in grants to 27 charities that provide essential services such as food, clothing, emergency financial assistance, and shelter to needy residents in Northern Virginia, Montgomery County, Prince George's County, MD, and the District of Columbia. Two additional grants totaling $40,000 will help community-based nonprofit organizations work more efficiently during and beyond these difficult economic times. The Neighbors in Need Fund is the only regionwide grantmaking program of its kind.