Donation To Bolster 'Critical' Arts Education at Hopkins Hill
Balise Automotive Group donated $2,000 to the elementary school after a student's grandmother won a contest at an arts festival.
As school systems struggle with budget shortages and diminishing funds, art and music programs are often among the first to be slashed. But one local school's art program got a boost Wednesday, thanks to a contest sponsored by Balise Automotive Group. Balise presented Hopkins Hill Elementary School with a $2,000 check during an assembly Wednesday, the result of a contest at a Providence art festival last Christmas season. Fourth-grader Elyssa Pelliccione and her grandmother, Michelle McGaughey, tried to figure out how many balloons were stuffed inside a Volkswagon Beetle at the festival. The closest guesser would get tickets to see "Shrek The Musical" at the Providence Performing Arts Center and $2,000 to donate to any school. McGauhey's …
