Duke Ellington School Receives $17.2 Million Grant

The received a $17.2 million gift from the Eugene B. Casey Foundation.

The performing arts school in the Burleith neighborhood will use the grant to create the Casey Endowment Fund for Instrumental
and Vocal Music programs.

"The Duke Ellington Fund is grateful to the Casey Foundation for giving so generously to establish a permanent endowment fund," said Rory Pullens, head of school, in a news release. "This milestone comes at a critical moment as we reflect on the progress we have made over the last 37 years while recommitting ourselves to achieving excellence in arts education."

The school offers a dual arts and academic program, but does not receive sufficient funding from the District to support both. Former executive director of the Ellington Fund told Patch last year that each year, the school is faced with a nearly $2 million shortfall and is able to raise over $1 million and secure in-kind donations to meet that gap

Last year to , the school put on a , held a Gala and had various other fundraisers to raise the needed funds.

"While public education is free, there ain't no such thing as a free lunch and everyone has to be involved in making it work," Pullens told Patch last November.

The school hopes to leverage the Casey Foundation gift to raise additional funds.

“We will work hard to match this generous gift from the Casey Foundation in order to give the District of Columbia the world-­‐class arts and academic high school that it deserves.” said Peggy Cooper Cafritz, founder of the Duke Ellington School, in a news release.