LEWES — The nonprofit Paul Kares recently donated $3,000 to the Cape Henlopen High School jazz band.

The funds will help pay the group’s travel expenses to the National Association for Music Education’s Eastern Division Tri-M Music Honor Society Leadership Conference on April 13-16 in Rochester, New York.

The Cape group is one of two jazz bands invited to perform at the event, hosted by the largest U.S. organization dedicated to music education.

“We are so grateful to Paul Kares for this award, which goes a long way to helping fund our trip,” said Chris Burkhart, director of bands at Cape Henlopen, who accepted the check at a holiday performance at The Room at Cedar Grove, Lewes.

The applicants to perform at the conference include high school, college and military ensembles. The cost is about $350-$400 per student, including transportation, accommodations and incidentals.

Paul Kares was founded by area musician and chef Paul Cullen and his friend James Rivette to support young people pursuing careers in music and the culinary arts. It offers funds for financial assistance, instruments, kitchen tools and scholarships covering tuition fees for specialty camps, schools and programs.

Qualified individuals are Delmarva-area students interested in music, the culinary arts and related fields. Students, parents, grandparents, public and private school programs and learning camps can apply.

For information, contact Michael Whitehouse, executive director of Paul Kares, at michael@paulkaresde.org. For an application, visit here.