Big Island Now posted this story on January 25, 2016:

Hilo Intermediate School was a recent recipient of a $5,000 grant from the Mockingbird Foundation.

The school was among 877 applicants vying for a total of more than $2.5 million. Hilo Intermediate made it through the two-tiered application process and received funding.

Funds received through the grant will be used to purchase new instruments and to support new and existing music education programs, with a focus on ukulele and vocal performance.

“It is our vision that students at the Hilo Intermediate School are exposed to and offered opportunities and platforms to discover, develop, and deploy their talents and gifts in music,” said Arnold Peneueta, a music teacher at the school. “Through this grant, we will be able to give every student a chance to be exposed to music.”

The Mockingbird Foundation is an all-volunteer nonprofit group founded and run by Phish fans. The grant given to Hilo Intermediate is one of 13, totaling $75,000 in support of music education.

This year marked the Foundation’s 19^th round of competitive grant-making, with the support of several band-related charities, bringing total donation numbers to over $918,000.