Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and the National Association for Music Education recently launched a campaign to award grants to 73 high school music arts programs across the U.S.

Following the success of the television series “Glee,” as well as the extraordinary sales of “Glee” on DVD, TCFHE and NAfME were excited to announce that $1 for every DVD and Blu-Ray sold would go towards the $1 million worth of grants being donated to high school arts programs.

High schools across the country were encouraged to submit videos detailing why their program deserved to receive one of the 73 grants. People can go online, watch the videos and vote for the school they feel is most deserving. The winning schools will be notified in December.

Phil Campbell High School is one of 396 schools in the running to receive one of these grants. The school is also one of only three schools in Alabama in the contest.

Ryan Collins, UNA student and summer band camp instructor at Phil Campbell High School, is encouraging the community to get involved with this cause.

“Music programs are often the first programs cut in a high school budget,” Collins said. “It’s unfortunate because music is a good outlet, and, for some students, it’s all they’ve ever known.”

Michael Butera, the executive director of the National Association for Music Education, also believes that awarding schools these grants is important.

“Millions of kids are attending schools where music programs have been cut,” he said. “Each week, ‘Glee’ is sticking up for school music, giving a voice to students and teachers who understand that music is essential to a complete education. Our organization is fighting every day to keep music in our schools so that every kid has the chance to experience it.”

The grants will vary in amounts. Three schools in the nation will win $50,000 each, 10 will receive $25,000 each, and 60 will win $10,000 apiece.

Collins said that any money a high school music program can receive is put to good use. In Phil Campbell’s case, the school still needs instruments vital to run an effective concert band, as well as sheet music, stands and chairs, following the devastating tornadoes that took place this past April.

Collins is encouraging the community and UNA students to keep the same level of initiative and drive-in voting they have already shown.

“Just remember to vote every day,” Collins said. “People tend to jump on the bandwagon in the beginning to support a good cause, but then they forget about it towards the end. Post the link on your Facebook every day, and encourage your friends to do the same.”

Only one vote per IP address is allowed per day. To view submission videos and vote, visit www.gleegiveanote.com. Voting ends Monday, Nov. 7.