Tuition Bursary Endowment Fund | Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy

Alleviating Financial Barriers

Quality arts training has historically been reserved for those who can afford it from an early age. Our Tuition Bursary Endowment Fund will help alleviate financial barriers to participation by supporting bursaries, scholarships and co-op opportunities for talented youth, with special emphasis on those artists identifying as Black, Indigenous or Person of Colour (BIPOC), LGBTQ+, new Canadians, and Persons with Disabilities.

What is an Endowment Fund?

An Endowment Fund provides a permanent financial resource to ensure the long-term viability of the Youth Academy. All donations to this vital fund remain in it forever. The principal is carefully invested, while the interest generated (approximate payout of 4% annually) provides income support, which is designated towards scholarships and bursaries, and to offset programming costs for those programs offered free of charge.

Why donate now to the Endowment Fund?

All endowment gifts make a difference, because together they form a strong foundation that continues to grow for years to come. The fund is made up of a pool of unrestricted dollars (i.e. general endowments), as well as a number of individually named funds restricted for certain purposes. What’s really exciting is that any donation you make towards endowment will double in value, due to a federal government matching funds initiative.

A gift of $25 becomes $50!
A gift of $125 becomes $250!
A gift of $500 becomes $1,000!

How To Give

Online: To donate online please choose a giving level below, and you will be linked to the Drayton Entertainment website to complete your donation. Alternatively, you may call our friendly Box Office at 1-855-372-9866.

Mail: Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy, 145 Northfield Dr. W., Unit C, Waterloo, ON N2L 5J3 Drayton Entertainment Charitable Business Number 12591 1313 RR0001

Tax Receipts: Tax receipts are issued for the full value of all donations. Payment plans are available at select giving levels.

Giving Levels

Tuition Bursary Endowment Fund

Support our new Youth Academy

Donate

For more information about making a donation please contact:

Lindsay Bellaire
Development Manager
Phone: (519) 621-5511 ext. 239
Email: lindsay@draytonentertainment.com

Tax receipts are issued for the full amount of your donation over $20.

Testimonials

This environment is free of judgment and full of love. Thank you for always pushing us and reminding us how important, valued and powerful we all are.

I can’t thank you enough for the courage, independence and kindness you help to instil in my kids.

Although my Dad never spoke of it to Evan or me, he was a little hesitant with the dance stuff and then theatre stuff… but then he came out of the Panto that Evan was in crying, so happy that Evan had found a place where he felt like he belonged.

As parents we got to ride this high with our son. We got to see him, for the first time, totally come into himself, for the first time, pure happiness. Something changed, he has changed….thank you.

This was the most amazing theatre experience I’ve had to date, and I’ve had a LOT! It’s the first time I’ve felt like I really belonged because you made such an inclusive environment.

Thank you! She walked away with more confidence about body image, an even deeper love of everything “theatre” and huge love and respect for her community!

The patience David shows to the children is perfect! As a teacher I recognize that this man was made to work with kids!! The way he speaks to kids makes them believe they can do anything!!!

This is where I want to be. I get to learn from Broadway performers who are performing at a theatre right next door but more importantly, I’ve made lifelong friends. Even the audition process is awesome. Drayton has helped me grow not only as a performer, but as a person.

My son has done lots of programs and I think he felt the most at home here. The children and staff were the most inclusive of any I’ve encountered.

Each and every day he arrived at Huron Country Playhouse, he knew he was stepping into a place where his passions and dreams were going to be honoured, respected and encouraged.

Kids (and even adults!) really have fun and learn skills, responsibility, and teamwork here. David Connolly (Director of Education) is a fantastic leader.

The two musical theatre classes I attended were a lot of fun and I enjoyed them tremendously.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the adult classes at DEYA. It is a great opportunity to get creative with like-minded peers in a judgment-free environment: singing, dancing, acting and even improv! I love that Drayton is giving us adults a chance to live the theatre dream and learn new skills from talented instructors.

The staff involved had an incredible ability to push the kids outside of their comfort zones to try new things and take risks. Most of all, they were able to teach kids to embrace differences and that it’s okay to be different.