Wolverton foundation
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Grantee Partners
The Wolverton Foundation (Foundation) believes in long-term partnerships that not only provide patient capital, but that are rooted in trust and collaboration. We have now celebrated our ten-year anniversary and the Foundation is proud to continue our support of SoM and the vision of Sarah McLachlan.
The foundation sought to support the stability of the SoM through the provision of a permanent home; a platform from which they have been able to grow and scale their programs. This was key to our thinking; that a reoccurring grant to support a lease and related costs would benefit SoM and allow for long-term planning. We also approached the design of the school from a perspective of humility and curiosity. The layout, the colors, the designs of the space were completely owned and championed by both the school and the students, with the foundation taking a step back.
We also believe in investing in our partners beyond the grant. The Wolverton Foundation has assisted SoM in strategic planning, donor cultivation and supporting other partnerships for strength and growth. We care deeply about the success of SoM and their role in advancing the social and emotional development of youth across Canada, through music.
On October 27, 2011, award-winning Canadian singer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan and the Wolverton Foundation opened a permanent music school that offers free music education to youth that face challenges in their lives.
Sparked by the influence of music in her life, Sarah McLachlan had long dreamed of opening a free music school for surrounding youth. Her vision first took shape with the creation of the Sarah McLachlan Foundation in 1999 and the 2002 opening of the Sarah McLachlan Music Outreach program (SoM), in collaboration with Arts Umbrella. The SoM program operated out of a 6000 square foot church servicing 75 students from surrounding schools, who wouldn’t otherwise have access to music programs. The need for a permanent home was critical to expand the program and provide access to more youth in an enhanced facility.
"SoM has been an amazing success," says Sarah McLachlan. "We have been able to reach hundreds of young people and provide them with the space and the tools they need to express themselves. Arts Umbrella has been instrumental in helping us turn our vision into a reality. Now, thanks to the Wolverton Foundation, we have the opportunity to take the school to the next level by having a permanent home that the students can call their own."
In 2009, Sarah McLachlan Music Outreach and the Wolverton Foundation forged a partnership built on aligned goals: to help Vancouver’s youth to find their voice and build their confidence through music.
These kinds of partnerships have an enormous impact on our communities and our children," declared Lisa Wolverton, Executive Director of the Wolverton Foundation. "We are enabling SoM to become a more sustainable arts organization and they in turn are able to impact more children in Vancouver and beyond with their music programs, providing them with opportunities for success.
After searching for the perfect space for nearly one year, the Wolverton Foundation and SoM found a 35,000 square foot space in a concrete building located near Main Street in Vancouver, BC. Following an extensive six-month renovation, 16,000 square feet of the former bowling alley was transformed into a state-of-the-art facility complete with soundproof studios and lesson rooms, a performance space, ample storage, a lunchroom, office and staff room. The new space – which was designed with the input of students – has the capacity to reach out to more youth ranging from grades four to twelve. In October, 2011, the Sarah McLachlan School of Music opened their doors to this beautiful space.
For all of us, our work is not yet done,” says Dona Wolverton, Founder of the Wolverton Foundation. “I urge all of you who have the ability to step forward and create this kind of partnership with your communities and make a difference in people’s lives. We all benefit from this kind of philanthropy as we invest in our own backyard.
In 2009, Sarah McLachlan Music Outreach and the Wolverton Foundation forged a partnership built on aligned goals: to help Vancouver’s youth to find their voice and build their confidence through music.
On October 27, 2011, award-winning Canadian singer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan and the Wolverton Foundation opened a permanent music school that offers free music education to youth that face challenges in their lives.
Sparked by the influence of music in her life, Sarah McLachlan had long dreamed of opening a free music school for inner-city youth. Her vision first took shape with the creation of the Sarah McLachlan Foundation in 1999 and the 2002 opening of the Sarah McLachlan Music Outreach program (SoM), in collaboration with Arts Umbrella. The SoM program operated out of a 6000 square foot church servicing 75 students from surrounding schools, who wouldn’t otherwise have access to music programs. The need for a permanent home was critical to expand the program and provide access to more youth in an enhanced facility.
"SoM has been an amazing success," says Sarah McLachlan. "We have been able to reach hundreds of young people and provide them with the space and the tools they need to express themselves. Arts Umbrella has been instrumental in helping us turn our vision into a reality. Now, thanks to the Wolverton Foundation, we have the opportunity to take the school to the next level by having a permanent home that the students can call their own."
In 2009, Sarah McLachlan Music Outreach and the Wolverton Foundation forged a partnership built on aligned goals: to help Vancouver’s youth to find their voice and build their confidence through music.
These kinds of partnerships have an enormous impact on our communities and our children," declared Lisa Wolverton, Executive Director of the Wolverton Foundation. "We are enabling SoM to become a more sustainable arts organization and they in turn are able to impact more children in Vancouver and beyond with their music programs, providing them with opportunities for success.
After searching for the perfect space for nearly one year, the Wolverton Foundation and SoM found a 35,000 square foot space in a concrete building located near Main Street in Vancouver, BC. Following an extensive six-month renovation, 16,000 square feet of the former bowling alley was transformed into a state-of-the-art facility complete with soundproof studios and lesson rooms, a performance space, ample storage, a lunchroom, office and staff room. The new space – which was designed with the input of students – has the capacity to reach out to more youth ranging from grades four to twelve. In October, 2011, the Sarah McLachlan School of Music opened their doors to this beautiful space.
For all of us, our work is not yet done,” says Dona Wolverton, Founder of the Wolverton Foundation. “I urge all of you who have the ability to step forward and create this kind of partnership with your communities and make a difference in people’s lives. We all benefit from this kind of philanthropy as we invest in our own backyard.