Taylor Swift funds musical program at New York schools

The proceeds from Taylor Swift's hit song Welcome To New York are funding a musical theatre program in the Big Apple's schools.

The pop star handed over a $50,000 check to city authorities earlier this year (15) after promising to donate the profits from her single to help local children.

It has now emerged the money is being used to help youngsters embrace the arts by writing and performing in their own musical theatre shows.

Taylor's donation is funding the expansion of the SING program, which allows students to put on their own productions as part of a competition between local schools.

"SING gives our high school students an opportunity to work with their peers, and create and execute a project from start to finish," explains Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina. "This is a wonderful program for developing passions in the arts and for building school and community spirit."

A statement released by the NYV Department of Education adds, "The program expansion is supported by a donation from singer-songwriter Taylor Swift in partnership with the Fund for Public Schools, and will increase arts participation and engagement - including after-school and on weekends - at the newly selected schools."

Taylor moved to New York last year (14), purchasing a luxury $20 million apartment in the Tribeca district. She was later named the city's tourism spokesperson and fronted a global campaign encouraging more visitors to take trips to the Big Apple.

Her charitable efforts in her adopted hometown also include teaming up with bosses at children's publishing company Scholastic to donate 25,000 books to schools around New York City.

The initiative, which was announced earlier last month (Nov15), will give 1,000 new children's books to 25 schools across the region.