St. Louis Symphony Orchestra receives $160,000 grant from Bayer Fund
Grant will continue Bayer Fund’s longtime support of the SLSO’s IN UNISON programs, including signature chorus, community outreach, and academic programs
(July 20, 2020, St. Louis, MO) – Today, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra announced it has been awarded a grant from Bayer Fund, which will be used to support the orchestra’s IN UNISON programs, including the IN UNISON Church Program, IN UNISON Chorus, and IN UNISON Academy. The grant is in the amount of $160,000.
Bayer Fund has supported the SLSO’s IN UNISON activities since the program’s inception in 1992. Over the past 28 years, Bayer Fund has given a total of more than $8 million to support the SLSO and to create and sustain its IN UNISON programs.
Marie-Hélène Bernard, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra President and CEO, said, “We are deeply grateful for Bayer Fund’s visionary and longtime support of IN UNISON programs, which enable the SLSO to connect meaningfully with our community and engage the entire St. Louis region in deepening its appreciation for the performance and preservation of music with African and African-American origins. The SLSO pioneered this unique program in the country in service to our community thanks to the generous support of Bayer Fund”.
The SLSO’s IN UNISON program began in fall 1992 with the support of Bayer Fund and in partnership with the St. Louis Clergy Coalition to broaden connections between the SLSO and the greater St. Louis community through partner churches. What began as a pilot program with five African-American partner churches has grown to 33 partner churches today; launched a groundbreaking chorus dedicated to the performance and preservation of music from African and African-American cultures; and has provided coaching, mentorship, and college assistance to more than 200 youth and young adults. Today, the SLSO’s IN UNISON program serves 15 counties in the bi-state region and impacts more than 11,000 people each year.
In 2019, Bayer Fund awarded more than $14 million to over 3,200 charitable and nonprofit organizations to help address essential needs in food and nutrition, STEM education and community development. Over the last five years, nonprofit organizations across the U.S. have received more than $79 million.
To learn more about Bayer Fund visit www.fund.bayer.us.