Upper Darby Arts & Education Foundation, Inc.

Upper Darby Arts & Education Foundation Transforming lives through creativity, connection, and community.

In a world where young people face rising anxiety, isolation, and academic pressure, the Upper Darby Arts & Education Foundation offers something powerful: hope, belonging, and a pathway to a performance stage for whoever and wherever they are in life.

For over two decades, UDAEF has enriched the lives of students in the Upper Darby School District through dynamic programs in the arts, education, and community service. At the heart of our work is a simple belief — that every child deserves the opportunity to be seen, heard, and inspired.

Upper Darby Summer Stage is one of the nation's most recognized youth theatre programs, welcoming over 900 students each summer to explore their creativity and develop lifelong skills. Named one of the Top Five Performing Arts Summer Camps in America by Playbill, Summer Stage produces eight professional-quality shows each season that draw nearly 27,000 audience members from across the Philadelphia region. For many participants, it's more than a program — it's a second home where they find their voice, form lasting friendships, and discover what they're capable of.

Through Schoener MusicMan Academy, young musicians don't just learn music — they discover it. From creating soundtracks for 3D virtual worlds and exploring music production to trying new instruments, Korean drumming, beatboxing, and more, each experience expands students' skills, confidence, and imagination — opening new possibilities for creative expression and future pathways they never knew existed.

Beyond the stage and rehearsal room, UDAEF fosters a spirit of service and connection through the UDAE Service Club, the Upper Darby Nonprofit Collaborative, and community pop-up classes that bring accessible arts education into neighborhoods across the region — available to all ages, regardless of background or income.

Now, we're ready for our next chapter.

In 2026, UDAEF will open the SPARC — a permanent home for creativity, learning, and community in Barclay Square. This long-envisioned space will bring our programs together under one roof, expand year-round programming, and create a welcoming hub where students and families can connect, grow, and thrive for generations to come. The SPARC isn't a departure from who we are — it's an expression of everything we've built.

Your support makes all of it possible. It sustains the programs already changing lives today while building the foundation for everything the SPARC will become.

When you give to UDAEF, you're helping an actor step into the spotlight, a musician find their rhythm, and a future leader discover their voice.

Your gift is an investment in a place, a purpose, and a promise — that every child in our community will have the opportunity to create, connect, and thrive.