Eighty Four, PA - The Washington County Community Foundation recently presented presidential awards to two local charities. Mon Valley Academy for the Arts (MVAA) received the President’s Crystal Award, which recognizes a small but improving charity. The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum (PTM) received the President’s Silver Award, which recognizes a more established charity who has met industry best practices regarding governance, management, and fundraising. Both awards are administered through an open and competitive process. Complete eligibility requirements and evaluation criteria are detailed on the Foundation’s website at www.wccf.net.
MVAA: With physical locations in Charleroi and Brownsville and other music offerings in various venues and locations throughout Washington County, the MVAA works to ensure that music is a part of every community, and that music education is accessible to all, regardless of financial barriers.
The MVAA began in November 2015 with a suitcase full of original music charts and the original drum set from the Twin Coaches Supper Club in Belle Vernon. From the very beginning, the motto of “Save the music and pass it on to the next generation” has been the driving force of the MVAA and its many volunteers and instructors.
During the summer months, communities are treated to free outdoor concerts through the EQT/MVAA Free Summer Concert Series and the Power of Music Free Summer Concert Series. Four performance groups of the MVAA, the TC Jr. Stage Band, VoiceZ on Fire, Regimental Fife & Drum Unit, and the Sam Bill Legacy Band, not only provide entertainment to the community, but they also provide valuable stage experience for young musicians.
Adult programs and summer camps provide immersive learning experiences that deepen the community’s connection to the arts. Youth programs, which are held throughout the year, are designed to provide a strong foundation in music essentials through engaging and interactive lessons.
From classical to contemporary, the MVAA offers musical instruction that includes technical skills, ear training, theory, and ensemble performances. MVAA’s diverse array of music programs are designed to nurture and develop the talents of students of all ages and skill levels. All programs are led by highly qualified instructors with extensive backgrounds in performance and music education.
The MVAA’s newest program, Empower A Rising Star (EARS), will provide need-based scholarships for individual music lessons for area youth. The $10,000 grant that accompanied the President’s Crystal Award, provided the seed money to initiate the EARS program. The MVAA is currently seeking additional financial support from individuals and businesses to build the EARS program so that more young students can experience the joy of music.
PTM: In the early 20th century, trolleys were lifelines for the county, linking residents to jobs, schools, and commerce. Today, the PTM stands as a tribute to that era, educating new generations about the crucial role trolleys played in urban development. Its collection of meticulously restored trolleys, as well as its Trolley Street, allows visitors to experience firsthand the sights and sounds of a bygone era, making history tangible and engaging for all ages. Since its inception in 1954, there has been an avid insistence on historical accuracy and authenticity as an extremely passionate team of trolley enthusiasts at the PTM protects and preserves these rolling historic landmarks.
Education is at the heart of the museum’s mission, with robust STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) programming. On any given day, hundreds of students from throughout the region descend upon the PTM, to learn about the trolley era through unique, exciting, and fun educational programs. By blending history with modern educational practices, the PTM not only preserves the past but also inspires future generations to understand the cultural and technological innovations that helped build their communities.
The new Welcome & Education Center offers self-guided exploration of various exhibits which illustrate how trolleys influenced urban development and changed the way people lived and worked. Other exhibits educate visitors on the various challenges that came with the trolleys’ operations.
The PTM’s commitment to preserving history goes hand-in-hand with fostering deeper community connections. Through special events like summer camps, meetups for trolley aficionados, educational workshops, and holiday-themed trolley rides, the museum becomes a gathering space for the community where locals can come together in shared appreciation of their heritage. The museum has grown into one of the finest trolley museums in the United States and one of the region’s most popular living history sites.
The PTM will apply the $25,000 grant that accompanied the President’s Silver Award to its standby trolley power project, to protect against unforeseen power outages.