The Civic Center of Greater Des Moines today announced it has received a $20,000 grant from Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. in support of the Civic Center’s annual fund.

Civic Center President and CEO Jeff Chelesvig said in a press release that the gift would go toward helping with the center’s Applause Education Series, which brought more than 38,000 students and teachers from 40 Iowa counties to see live performances.

“Gifts like this one from Pioneer Hi-Bred allow us to offer this experience at a ticket price of only $1 per student, even though the actual cost to the Civic Center is more than $6,” he said.