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Local nonprofit Playing It Forward highlights music program; board accepts community donations
Summary
At its June 17 meeting the Little Falls Public School District board heard from Patricia Pinkney about Playing It Forward, a music-support program that provides instruments, camp scholarships and All‑State support; the board also accepted several community donations earmarked for student programs.
Patricia Pinkney, founder of Playing It Forward, told the Little Falls Public School District school board that her program has supplied instruments and scholarships to students since it was established in February 2016. "Playing it forward was established in February of 2016," Pinkney said, and the fund supports instrument purchases, refurbished instrument donations and student travel to music camps.
Pinkney described this school year’s expansion in camp support and scholarships: the program is sending seven seventh‑grade students to a music camp and is providing $200 to returning campers who wish to attend again. She also said the program helps students who qualify for All‑State band auditions and that organizers plan to launch an alumni fundraising effort called "Banding Together" to increase community support and send more students to camp.
Audience members and board members praised the presentation; the meeting recorded live performances by students following the remarks. Pinkney encouraged community donations of used instruments and noted that instruments given to the district are retained by the schools rather than distributed permanently to individual students. "If you have any instruments we are always happy to receive any used instruments," she said.
At the same meeting the board approved a resolution accepting monetary gifts from community organizations and individuals to support district programs. Announced gifts included: Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church — $373 to the Flyer Pride Pack program; Sunrise Egg Co‑op and CoBank — $2,000 to the FFA program; Bonnie Matthews — $11,000 to the Lindberg social work fund; Flyers Nordic Ski Club — $1,800 to the Nordic ski program; Pine Country Bank — $180 to the Esports scholarship fund; and Compeer Financial — $3,383 to the district agricultural department. The board approved the donations by roll call (the board recorded unanimous "yes" votes).
Why it matters: The gifts and the Playing It Forward program support extracurricular and student services that the district said expand access to music and co‑curricular opportunities. The board thanked Pinkney and encouraged community members to contribute instruments or funds to sustain the program.
What’s next: Pinkney invited donors and community members to contact the district or her program to arrange instrument donations or to discuss camp scholarships. The district did not specify a summed total for all gifts beyond the line‑item amounts read at the meeting.
