Media Contact:
Keith Hejna
Little Kids Rock
Work: (973) 746-8248, ext. 114
keith@littlekidsrock.org
Little Kids Rock Across America, Sponsored by the Dr. Phil Foundation” Expands Free Band-Focused Music Program and Donates Instruments for over 3,200 Tampa Children
National nonprofit donates hundreds of instruments and curriculum to Hillsborough County Public Schools
Tampa, Fla., Mar. 5, 2010 -- Over 3,200 Tampa public school children will receive free music lessons and instruments due to a donation and new program called “Little Kids Rock Across America, Sponsored by the Dr. Phil Foundation.” Little Kids Rock, a leading nonprofit provider of free musical instruments and free lessons in the United States has teamed up with the Dr. Phil Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to helping children and families across the nation, to launch this collaborative, band-focused music education program in the Hillsborough County Public Schools. “Little Kids Rock Across America, Sponsored by the Dr. Phil Foundation” will bring over 600 free acoustic Fender® guitars, Little Kids Rock materials, and an innovative curriculum to over 3,200 under-served public school students in Tampa.
On March 6th and 7th at Carrollwood Elementary School, participating teachers will learn a unique curriculum and their schools will be granted hundreds of brand-new instruments. Teachers who complete the workshop will begin leading free music classes this school year, helping reach a total of over 3,200 students in the Tampa area.
“Due to such a generous instrument donation, I'm fortunate to provide meaningful music lessons to my students,” says current Little Kids Rock teacher, Daniel Shea. “My students and I are fortunate to be connected to Little Kids Rock and to have the tools to springboard our learning.”
Little Kids Rock launched in Tampa in 2008 and has delivered more than $290,000-worth of free instruments, curriculum and materials that currently reach nearly 5,500 kids.
This “Little Kids Rock Across America“ Guitar workshop is presented in the Hillsborough County Public Schools through generous support from The Dr. Phil Foundation and The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay.
Workshop Details:
Where: Carrollwood Elementary School
3516 McFarland Rd.
Tampa, FL 33618
When: March 6 (Sat.) 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
March 7 (Sun.) 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Media are invited to attend the two-day workshop. Please contact Keith Hejna at keith@littlekidsrock.org if you would like to attend.
About The Dr. Phil Foundation
The DPF, founded in 2003, is a nonprofit charitable organization committed to supporting organizations and programs that address the emotional, physical, mental and spiritual needs of children and families. For more information, go to www.drphilfoundation.org.
About Little Kids Rock
Little Kids Rock is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization that transforms children’s lives by restoring and revitalizing music education in underfunded public schools. Little Kids Rock was founded in San Francisco in 2002 by David Wish, an elementary school teacher who had grown frustrated with the lack of music education funding at his school. Today, Little Kids Rock is one of the leading nonprofit providers of free lessons and instruments to underserved children in US public schools, and has served more than 85,000 students at over 1,100 schools in 21 cities nationwide. Little Kids Rock Honorary Board Members include Bonnie Raitt, Slash, Paul Simon, B.B. King, Ziggy Marley and other famous friends in the music industry. More information can be found at: www.littlekidsrock.org.
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