The Broadway musical “Wicked” has awarded a $10,000 grant to the national nonprofit Girls Write Now. The grant was presented following the April 14 performance of “Wicked” at the Gershwin Theatre. Funds will support the nonprofit’s efforts to support creativity and self-expression by offering mentorship and connection to writers — especially those historically disempowered for their gender.
The grant is being presented in partnership with the stationery company Moleskine and its nonprofit arm the Moleskine Foundation, which raises awareness of creativity as a tool for social change. This is the third grant given by “Wicked” and Moleskine’s Everyone Deserves the Chance to Fly grant program, which supports organizations that expand access to creative expression, with a special focus on young artists.
The grant program, launched by Serino Coyne executive vice president Diana Salameh and Moleskine president Ward Simmons, has provided over $30,000 in grants to nonprofits through “Wicked” and the Moleskine Foundation’s Creativity Pioneers Fund. Last April, it presented a grant to NYC Salt, a program that educates New York City youth in the art of digital photography. The initiative is supported by a portion of the proceeds from sales of a special edition notebook, which is available for purchase at the Gershwin Theatre, Moleskine retail locations and online.
“I couldn’t be happier that ‘Wicked’ and the Moleskine Foundation are partnering to create the Everyone Deserves the Chance to Fly grants,” said “Wicked” book writer Winnie Holzman in a statement. “As a writer, I can attest that a blank page can be daunting — but it also can be inspiring, as there are limitless ways to fill it. And that is what ‘Wicked,’ Moleskine and these grants aim to do — to remind and inspire young writers that there are endless ways to express yourself, to tell your story, and to find your voice — and in doing so, they can help change the world.”
“Girls Write Now embodies the power of creativity to transform lives, equipping young women with the tools, confidence and platforms not only to tell their own stories, but to shape a deeper sense of self, support their mental well-being and contribute to the narratives that define their communities,” said Moleskine Foundation co-founder and CEO Adama Sanneh. “Through the Everyone Deserves the Chance to Fly grant, we are honored to support their mission and help elevate the next generation of bold and visionary storytellers.”
