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HCA's Student Sponsorship Program

 

What does the sponsership pay for?

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  • 2x 1 hour Guided Practice Sessions with HCA's teacher each week

  • This comes out to 156$ worth of lessons every month, paid for by your sponsor.

    • *Sponsorship duration is not guarunteed, as it is subject to funding availability.*

Who Qualifies? (Requirement Details)

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1. Grade level K–12 (ages 5–18)

2. Household income: Must be at or below 100% of the         current Federal Poverty Guidelines (2025: $15,060         for 1 person, +$5,380 per additional member) →             Full chart – HHS.gov

3. Daily access to a cello is required (own or have a rental).

4. Daily access to a phone or computer for zoom sessions is also required.

5. Access to reliable internet is required.

 

*Sponsorship covers private cello lessons only. Instrument, accessories, sheet music, and all other materials are not provided and must be supplied by the student.*

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Know someone needing sponsorship?

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     Important Limits 

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  • Limited spots – first-come, first-served

  • One sponsorship per child

  • Subject to donor funding

  • Even if a student meets all requirements, funding is not guaranteed due to scarcity of sponsors. 

  • Non-discriminatory, income-based aid only

        If funding runs out, qualified applicants go          on a waitlist and are notified first when

        new spots open.

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What Happens After You Apply?

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  • 48-hour review → You get a clear YES or NO email

  • If "yes" → We will begin looking for a sponsor.

  • If "NO" → We explain why and invite you to re-apply if circumstances change

    • *Even if a student meets all requirements, funding is not guaranteed due to scarcity of sponsors. *

Attendance & Participation Policy 

(For student sponsorships)

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We honor every donor dollar. That’s why we ask for commitment.

Always make it to your sessions, and be on time! Consistency is critical.

If donors do not see commitment from students, they are more likely to withdraw funds.

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Please—before each month begins—double-check vacation times, holiday plans, doctor’s appointments, and other important events before scheduling. This lets us plan around them and prevents avoidable absences.

​

We honor every donor dollar. That’s why we ask for commitment.

Always make it to your sessions, and be on time! Consistency is critical.

If donors do not see commitment from students, they are more likely to withdraw funds.

​

Please—before each month begins—double-check vacation times, holiday plans, doctor’s appointments, and other important events before scheduling. This lets us plan around them and prevents avoidable absences.

 

This is what we expect from sponsored students:

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  1. Excused Absences: Must be requested 7 days in advance of the session, unless related to sickness or emergencies. If an excused absence is requested less than 7 days before the session and the student does not request a reschedule, the student will receive 3 points (see #6 for points). If requested less than 24 hours before the session, it is a last-minute cancellation and counts as an unexcused absence (see #4). Even requests made more than 7 days in advance require teacher approval and are not guaranteed. The best way to avoid points is to request a reschedule instead.

  2. Rescheduling: Contact us 12 hours or more in advance to request a rescheduled lesson. Rescheduling is not guaranteed due to limited slots. If you request a reschedule less than 12 hours before the session, we will try to accommodate you, but you will receive 2 points for inadequate notice (see #6). You may reschedule up to 2 sessions per month. If we offer 2 or more open slots in the month and the student cannot attend any of them, it counts as an unexcused absence (see #4).

  3. Make-Up Days: Available for any absence (excused or unexcused). Successfully completing a make-up day removes 1 point from the student’s total (see #6). Make-up days must be scheduled and attended within the same 1-month period the absence occurred. Availability is limited and not guaranteed.

  4. Unexcused Absences: Includes no-shows and last-minute cancellations. Each unexcused absence earns 5 points (see #6).

  5. Chronic Lateness: Arriving 10–29 minutes late = 1 point. Arriving 30–44 minutes late = 3 points. Arriving 45 minutes or more late = considered a missed session and earns 5 points (see #6).

  6. Points: Points track accountability to protect donor funds and keep students on track. Too many points can lead to termination (see #7). Successfully completing a make-up day removes 1 point per make-up, regardless of whether the original absence was excused or unexcused. Make-ups must occur within the same 1-month period the points were earned.

  7. Termination: Accumulating 8 or more points in any 1-month period results in immediate termination from the sponsorship. Each 1-month period starts on the calendar day of the first scheduled lesson (e.g., March 3 – April 2 is one period; April 3 – May 2 is the next). Points reset to zero at the end of each 1-month period.

  8. Re-Applying After Termination: Students may reapply 30 days after removal. Approved reapplicants are placed on the waitlist.

  9. Emergencies: Considered excused absences. Includes student illness/injury, death or serious illness of an immediate family member, and required court appearances.

  10. Sick Days: Considered excused absences. We may request a doctor’s note to verify.

  11. REQUIRED FOR SPONSORSHIP MATCHING: This is info we need in order to find sponsors for the student.​​

  • Student’s first name.

  • Student's grade K-12

  • A short bio (aspirations, why cello, or goals)

  • A smiling face photo.

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 *The student’s photo + grade + first name + bio will be posted on the website until the student receives sponsorship. Requests for removal can be done anytime by email.*

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