[NEW YORK CITY, NY] April 13, 2026 — Songs of Promise: An Evening with Miss America brought together supporters, artists, and advocates for a memorable evening dedicated to expanding access to arts education for students across the country. The annual benefit concert supports the Fray Sykes Scholarships Fund, founded in 2013 by Miss America 2026 Cassie Donegan.
Proceeds from the evening will directly support the Fund’s ongoing scholarship initiatives, as well as the continued development of its affiliated nonprofit, The Arts Legacy Foundation, which works to foster long-term investment in arts opportunity and accessibility nationwide.
Funds raised benefit three cornerstone scholarships: the Lydia Fray Music Scholarship, the Kay Sykes Arts Scholarship, and the Judith Coffman Legacy in Performance Scholarship. Together, these programs provide vital resources—including lessons, instruments, training, supplies, collegiate tuition, and performance opportunities—helping to remove financial and geographic barriers to arts participation.
Through music and storytelling, Songs of Promise celebrated the transformative power of creative expression while advancing its mission to ensure every student has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive through the arts.
“After 13 years of this concert, you would think I’d be able to anticipate how it will feel… but every single time, I am overwhelmed in the most beautiful way by the love, the generosity, and the unwavering support for this mission,” Cassie shared. “To every person who showed up, who gave, who listened, who believed – thank you. Truly. There is something so powerful about a room full of people choosing to come together for something bigger than themselves, and I will never take that for granted. To the artists who shared their gifts so selflessly, you created something unforgettable. And to the audience, your energy, your presence, and your hearts made the night what it was. What started 14 years ago with The Lydia Fray Music Scholarship has grown into something far beyond what I could have imagined, and it continues because of all of you. We now successfully fund not only TLFMS, but also The Kay Sykes Arts Scholarship and The Judith Coffman Legacy in Performance Scholarship. I am so deeply grateful for every soul who was part of this night. My heart is very, very full.”
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