Daniel D. Fryer served as the Churchill Junior High Band Director for thirty-six years. Over the course of his career, he introduced thousands of young students to the transformative power of music, igniting their love of the arts in their community and shaping leaders through the collaborative spirit unique to instrumental band.
When Illinois schools began facing budget cuts, his son, Jeff Fryer, himself a former Churchill Jr. High and Galesburg High School band student (Class of ’95), recognized the need to take action to ensure students continued to have access to music programs.
“Seeing the severe budget cuts in Illinois education in 2016, especially to music programs, was heartbreaking. I decided I needed to take action and find a way to support music education in Galesburg,” Fryer recalled.
After a conversation with former Galesburg District 205 Fine Arts Coordinator, Dean Petrie, Jeff was connected to Galesburg Community Foundation, where he established the Daniel D. Fryer Galesburg Community Music Fund to honor his father’s dedication to both music education and District 205. The fund regularly supports additional needs of music programs in District 205 with a particular interest in the jr. high band program.
“I chose to work with Galesburg Community Foundation because they truly understand the needs of the community,” Fryer explained. “When I learned about how they collaborated closely with local organizations I supported, I realized I needed that kind of support to bring my ideas to life. Junior high students often get overlooked, but it’s such a crucial time for developing a love for music. I knew with the help of the Community Foundation, we could make a real impact for young musicians.”
In establishing the fund, Jeff hoped that the community would continue to benefit from music education, just as he did growing up. Most recently, the fund supported the purchase of 140 polo shirts for Jr. high band students that are worn for performances.
“When I first suggested naming the fund after my dad, I thought he might find it odd, but he was all for it,” Jeff shared. “He told me how his own upbringing was shaped by community support, especially through music with his brothers. He wanted to continue that legacy for future generations.”
“What Jeff has done is something we encourage everyone to think about. He cared about a cause and put his care into action. Because this fund is endowed, a permanent resource has been created for music in the Galesburg community. Creating a fund is a wonderful way to honor someone!” added Sarah Grant, Galesburg Community Foundation, Director of Development.
To ensure that the causes you care about today will always be supported, consider establishing an endowed fund at Galesburg Community Foundation. We are happy to help you find a way to make an impact in your community. For more information, contact Sarah Grant at info@yourgcf.org or 309-344-8898.
