Transforming Lives Through the Power of Music: North Valley Music School's Ambitious Expansion

The Whitefish Community Foundation has awarded a substantial 0,000 grant to North Valley Music School (NVMS) to support the construction of a new music campus at Smith Fields in Whitefish. This generous donation is a significant boost to NVMS's capital campaign, which aims to raise .5 million to build a state-of-the-art facility that will allow the organization to expand its reach and impact within the Flathead Valley community.

Empowering Communities Through Music Education and Appreciation

Outgrowing the Current Facility

Since its inception in 2001, North Valley Music School has been dedicated to enriching Montana communities through music education, appreciation, and performance. Operating out of a modest-sized home on Spokane Avenue in Whitefish, the nonprofit organization has seen a growing demand for its programs, with a waitlist of 100 students. The current facility has become too small to accommodate the increasing number of students and the diverse range of musical opportunities the school aims to provide.

Ambitious Capital Campaign and Expansion Plans

In 2022, NVMS announced a bold capital campaign to raise .5 million, which includes a million operating endowment. The new 8,100-square-foot building will be constructed at Smith Fields in Whitefish, allowing the organization to serve up to 3,000 students annually with expanded performance, group class, and workshop opportunities. This expansion will enable NVMS to fulfill its mission of providing high-quality music education and appreciation to a wider audience within the Flathead Valley.

Generous Support from the Whitefish Community Foundation

The Whitefish Community Foundation's board of directors has been closely monitoring the progress of NVMS's capital campaign and was encouraged to learn that over 650 donors had already contributed to the project. To help the organization reach its .5 million goal, the foundation surprised NVMS with a 0,000 grant, which includes a ,000 Major Community Project Grant and an additional ,000 from several donors who are part of the foundation's Circle of Giving.

Transforming Lives Through Music Education

The new North Valley Music School facility will serve the entire Flathead Valley for generations to come, filling the growing need for high-quality, locally accessible music education. Whitefish Community Foundation President/CEO Alan Davis expressed the foundation's enthusiasm for supporting this project, stating, "The new North Valley Music School will serve the entire Flathead Valley for generations to come and fill the growing need for high-quality, music education locally. We are happy to support the project with Circle of Giving dollars and hope other interested donors can help get the project to the finish line."

Celebrating the Hard Work and Determination of NVMS

NVMS Board Chairperson Christine Rossi expressed the organization's deep gratitude for the Whitefish Community Foundation's support, saying, "This generous donation is a tremendous boost to our fundraising efforts to build a new home for NVMS and continue transforming lives through the power of music education." The Whitefish Community Foundation's Major Community Project Grant program, which has awarded nearly million to various projects in the Flathead Valley, has played a crucial role in helping NVMS realize its ambitious expansion plans.