For Steven and Virginia Glass, the arts have always been more than enrichment; they are a bridge between people, cultures and generations. As retired educators, longtime Red Cross volunteers and avid world travelers, the Glasses have spent their lives witnessing how creativity fosters empathy, resilience and connection. Those experiences are what inspired their recent gift to support scholarships at the Flint School of Performing Arts (FSPA).

Both Steven and Virginia were introduced to the arts early in life. Steven played trumpet throughout his school years, performing with the Flint Central High School band, while Virginia explored theatre and singing.

“We saw how the arts enrich children’s lives,” Virginia shared. “They enhance brain functioning, reduce stress, and provide a stable connection to other people.” As educators — Virginia in elementary education and later, as a Chapter One reading specialist, Steven in Beecher elementary and middle school classrooms — they also saw firsthand how arts education supports learning across disciplines.

Their belief in the arts deepened through decades of service with the Red Cross, both locally and nationally. In disaster-stricken communities, they observed that even when families lost nearly everything, they still remained connected to the artistic influences in their lives. “Families always want the best for their children,” Virginia said. “And that connection [to the arts] can bring a calming effect to their lives.”

Travel has also played a central role in shaping their perspective. Through teaching experiences (including a Fulbright teaching exchange in England), volunteer work and personal adventures across the globe, the Glasses repeatedly experienced how art transcends language. Whether singing children’s songs on a train, sharing origami with kids in a park or exchanging holiday carols between boats anchored in the Virgin Islands, they found that melody and rhythm create instant understanding. “We don’t always share a spoken language,” Steven noted, “but we can share music.”

This belief in shared humanity is why international and cultural exchange programs, especially for young people, are so meaningful to them. They have seen how these experiences leave a lifetime impact, opening minds and expanding possibilities. Supporting FSPA scholarships allows them to help ensure that students, regardless of financial circumstance, can access those same transformative opportunities.

Their giving is also very personal. Steven’s sister, Pamela Glass, was a young flutist who passed away at age 10. A scholarship in her name honors her memory while helping young musicians pursue their own artistic pathways. “We’ve been privileged to meet students who’ve benefited from our donations through these scholarships,” the Glasses shared. “It’s gratifying to hear about their goals and we’re so pleased to be part of their journeys.”

As former teachers, they are especially passionate about protecting arts education at a time when it is often the first to be cut. “When students had access to the arts, you could see the difference,” Virginia said. “They were more engaged, less stressed, more creative. It changed their demeanor, and their learning.”

Through their generosity, Steven and Virginia Glass are helping ensure that the arts remain accessible, vital and transformative for the next generation, here in Flint and far beyond.