Twenty years ago, Charles L. Hughes and Alvin C. Jones made a simple but powerful investment: put instruments in the hands of Nevada’s public school students. Two decades later, that commitment is still going strong.
We are proud to announce the 2026 Hughes & Jones Music Grants, marking the 20th anniversary of the Charles L. Hughes and Alvin C. Jones Music Fund for Nevada Public Schools. This grant cycle awarded a total of $150,000 to school music programs across Clark and Washoe counties.
About the Fund
Charles L. Hughes and Alvin C. Jones founded this fund in 2006 with a straightforward and enduring purpose: to put musical instruments into the hands of Nevada’s public school students — especially those who might not otherwise have access to them. What began as a vision to strengthen music education has, over twenty years, reached schools in rural Nevada and in Clark and Washoe counties, cycle after cycle.
Instruments purchased through these grants remain the property of the school, ensuring that students for years to come benefit from this generosity. Strong music programs don’t just teach students to play — they build discipline, collaboration, and confidence. They give communities something to gather around. And they keep the arts alive in public education.
Over the past two decades, the Hughes & Jones Music Fund has awarded a total of $1.6 million to Nevada public school music programs — a legacy of generosity that has put instruments in the hands of students across the state, year after year.
The Hughes & Jones Music Fund grant cycles are:
- Nevada rural counties in the spring of odd years
- Clark and Washoe counties in the spring of even years
2026 Grant Recipients
This year’s funding reaches students across two of Nevada’s most populous counties:
- 15 music programs in Clark County
- 7 music programs in Washoe County
All grants support the purchase of musical instruments for band and music programs at middle schools and high schools throughout both counties.
Congratulations to the schools, students, instructors, and communities that will enjoy the benefit of these funds for the purchase of musical instruments to strengthen their music education programs.
As we mark 20 years of the Hughes & Jones Music Fund, we are grateful to Charles Hughes and Alvin Jones for a legacy that continues to open doors for Nevada students. Here’s to the next generation of Nevada musicians.
Have a great year of music!
Questions? Contact the Nevada Community Foundation at info@nevadacf.org or 702-892-2326.