For over 50 years, the National PTA Reflections arts program has advanced the vision of founder Mary Lou Anderson, who believed deeply in the power of creativity. Her legacy continues each year through the Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant, which awards funding to two local PTAs to expand access to high-quality arts education and create new pathways for students to participate in the PTA Reflections program.
Selected from a very talented and dedicated pool, Lake Myra Elementary PTA in Wendell, North Carolina, and Boca Raton Community High School PTSA in Boca Raton, Florida, were each awarded $1,250 to create transformative arts education programming that welcomed all students.
Both grantees embraced the 2024–2025 Reflections theme, “Accepting Imperfection,” while also weaving in the upcoming 2025–2026 theme, “I Belong!” What they created shows how the arts not only nurture individual expression but also build traditions that strengthen families and schools.
Lake Myra Elementary PTA: Reflections Passport Night Sparks Emotional & Artistic Growth
At Lake Myra Elementary, the PTA designed a Reflections Passport Night, an evening event where families “traveled” through a series of arts and reflection stations. With passport in hand, each stop encouraged students to explore creativity and emotions in new ways.
One station invited children to make hats with the art teacher. Another, led by the school counselor, guided students in talking about feelings and identifying safe people they could turn to when emotions felt overwhelming. Families also learned about how to participate in the Reflections program itself.
Each completed passport earned families an art kit, a set of feelings flip cards, and a journal to take home. These resources were meant to extend the experience beyond the event and encourage ongoing engagement in art and reflection.
Feedback from the evening highlighted how much the event meant to families. One parent noted: “It was really great to get kids talking about their feelings and how they can express them in a safe way. I also love connecting with families outside of the typical school day and classroom.”
The program was so well received that the PTA plans to make it an annual tradition. With this new tradition, the Mary Lou Anderson grant has created lasting momentum for both Reflections and the arts in the Lake Myra community.
Boca Raton Community High School PTSA: Arts in the Courtyard
In Florida, Boca Raton Community High School PTSA asked: What if every student could experience the arts, right where they are? The answer was a school-day arts showcase staged in the central courtyard, ensuring hundreds of students could participate.
The PTSA intentionally included Exceptional Student Education (ESE) students in preparing, setting up, and managing the event so that they were not just participants but leaders. The goal was to show students the breadth of the Reflections program by representing as many arts categories as possible including a 16-piece jazz band performance, student artwork displays, and film students’ documentation for a future broadcast.
One of the most moving activities was the “I Belong!” wings project. Led by student ambassadors with autism, participants were invited to decorate one side of a feather with artwork and write a personal reflection about belonging on the reverse. When assembled together, the feathers became a set of wings that now hang on display at the school as a collective expression of unity and pride.
As one PTSA leader reflected, “Bringing the arts TO the students is invaluable. Many of our students had never listened to our jazz band, nor seen the amazing photography their classmates created, nor created their own art journal. We believe we touched more students than we know.”
The success of the showcase was immediate. Teachers expressed interest in hosting another art day in the fall, aligned with the next Reflections call for entries, ensuring the project continues to inspire participation in years to come.
Continuing Mary Lou Anderson’s Legacy
These projects exemplify the transformative potential of the Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant, enabling PTAs to deliver meaningful, inclusive arts experiences that spark creativity, emotional insight, and community connection.
Interested in learning how your PTA can apply for future grants or enhance your own arts initiatives? Visit the National PTA’s ArtsEd Resources and grants page for guides, toolkits, and grant application details.
