CMA Foundation Provides $1.72 Million to Support National Music Education Programs
NASHVILLE – In 2014, the CMA Foundation has awarded a record high $1.72 million in grants to deserving national and local programs that support music education for children, bringing the total amount donated since 2006 to more than $10 million.
“What began as a very grassroots, local initiative to support music education in Metro Nashville Public Schools on behalf of our artist community has grown tremendously with the formation of the Foundation and its established mission to build partnerships that advance this important campaign on a national scale,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer.
“This was a big year for our young Foundation,” said Joe Galante, Chair of the CMA Foundation. “The Foundation dramatically increased our support around the country. It impacted more cities and students nationally than ever before. This couldn’t be accomplished without the generosity of the Country Music artists.”
Programs benefiting from the CMA Foundation Grants include:
Education Through Music: Education Through Music (ETM) partners with inner-city schools in New York City to provide all students with music as a core subject, and to create school communities that value the arts. ETM’s mission is to promote the use of music in schools as a means of enhancing students’ academic performance and general development. In the current school year, ETM serves 20,000 students and 40 teachers in 38 inner-city schools, and their model reaches another 8,000 children through the work of their licensed affiliate organization in Los Angeles. The grant was presented in September by Darius Rucker and Little Big Town.
Metro Nashville Public Schools: In January, the CMA Foundation donated $1 million to benefit music education programs for Nashville public school students during a concert event at the CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame hosted by Eric Paslay. The donation brought CMA’s support of music education in Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools from $6.5 million to more than $7.5 million. This money has been used to build music labs and purchase instruments and supplies for all Metro Schools through a partnership with the Nashville Public Education Foundation.
Notes for Notes: Funds the construction of music studios in Boys and Girls Club facilities across the U.S. The CMA Foundation made an initial donation to the Nashville Notes for Notes chapter in 2014 and has committed additional funds to expand the program in 2015 to chapters in Atlanta, Austin, Brooklyn, Detroit, and San Francisco. CMA’s longtime partner Chevrolet has committed an additional funds for the auto manufacturer’s hometown facility in Detroit.
Rocketown Productions: The Rocketown Productions grant is designed to provide access to technology; equipment in a professional studio setting (recording, producing, and mixing); live performance; and music instruction that will give participants the skills and confidence they need to pursue a career in the music industry. In existence for 20 years, Rocketown of Middle Tennessee serves young people ages 8-22 of all ethnic, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds.
Tennessee Performing Arts Center: The CMA Foundation grant was presented to the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) to support the Disney Musicals in Schools program, which is the Disney Theatrical Group’s first in-school outreach project outside of New York City.
VH1 Save the Music: After a five-year partnership between VH1 Save the Music and Roanoke City Public Schools (RCPS), a longtime goal of providing access to instrumental music education programs for students’ in Roanoke was finally achieved due to the support of the CMA Foundation’s grant. With 17 grantee schools and $510,000 worth of musical instruments donated to date, the complete restoration of Roanoke’s music programs was reason to celebrate on Nov. 17 at a student concert attended by Hunter Hayes.
W.O. Smith School: For the third year, the CMA Foundation supported summer music education programs for low-income students at the W.O. Smith Nashville Community Music School. The camps at the W.O. Smith Music School offer enriching activities in a positive musical and social environment that many students could not otherwise afford. Three summer camp sessions are offered for children ages 8 to 11.
“CMA is the perfect partner because they truly believe that every single child deserves a quality education, and one that includes music,” said Katherine Damkohler, Executive Director of NYC-based Education Through Music. “Partnering with them is definitely a dream come true. We are extremely grateful for this support…We truly believe that quality music education supports learning in all areas, to help our children be successful in school and in life.”
Studies show students who participate in the arts are more likely to graduate, have better attendance rates, and higher GPAs than students not enrolled in arts classes. The CMA Foundation recognizes the importance of music education in keeping kids engaged and in school as well as providing access to higher education through scholarships.
To date, the CMA Foundation has awarded more than $10 million to organizations that support music education across the United States. The funds are donated on behalf of the artists who support CMA Music Festival each June, meeting fans and performing for free.
CMA created the nonprofit (501C3) CMA Foundation in 2011. Guided by the generosity of the Country Music community, the CMA Foundation focuses on improving and sustaining music education programs everywhere while supporting worthwhile causes important to the Country Music Association.
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