NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In response to the growing need for high-quality, functional pianos in public schools, the VH1 Save The Music Foundation in partnership with singer/songwriter/pianist Sara Bareilles are launching Keys + Kids, a new competitive grant program open to all U.S. K-12 public schools. Beginning March 10th and through April 30th, interested K – 12 public schools can submit their application at VH1SaveTheMusic.org to receive one of ten piano packages valued at $10,000 worth of equipment each to support their music and arts program.
“Music changed my life. I was one of the lucky kids who had access to wonderful music programming in my school, and it has profoundly and positively affected me in more ways than I can mention,” said Sara Bareilles. “A piano symbolizes the centerpiece of all of that for me, and I'm so happy to join with VH1 Save the Music to launch the Keys + Kids Program to bring 10 piano packages into deserving classrooms. I believe arts education to be vital to the health and balance of our students and it is my privilege and my honor to lend my voice in support of this mission.”
“We are delighted to have Sara Bareilles – someone who truly understands the value of a piano - to help us launch the Keys + Kids Piano Program,” said Paul Cothran, Executive Director, VH1 Save The Music Foundation. “This opportunity would not be possible without our Keys + Kids Leadership Circle that includes: Avnet Inc., The Durst Organization, Houlihan’s Restaurants, The LEGO Children’s Fund, NAMM, Raymond Weil, William Hill Estate Winery, Shure Incorporated, Yamaha and countless individuals. Their support of this pilot program has been integral to our mission of continuing to provide students the maximum benefits of music education.”
Applications will be judged by a Committee made up of members of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, Sara Bareilles, VH1 senior staff and patrons of the Keys + Kids Leadership Circle. Grant winners will be announced on the Foundation’s website on May 30, 2014. For more information, contest rules or to see how you can get involved please visit www.vh1savethemusic.org.
About the VH1 Save The Music Foundation:
The VH1 Save The Music Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring instrumental music education programs in America’s public schools, and raising awareness about the importance of music as part of each child’s complete education. To date, VH1 Save The Music has provided nearly $51 Million in new musical instruments to almost 1,900 public schools in more than 192 districts around the country, impacting the lives of over 2.3 million children. The 2013 Ambassador Class - dedicated to raising awareness and funds to benefit The Foundation - includes: Britney Spears, Gloria Reuben, Hunter Hayes, Taye Diggs, Cher Lloyd, Jason Derulo and Diane Birch. Get involved at www.vh1savethemusic.com and follow us on twitter @vh1savethemusic.
About Sara Bareilles:
Sara Bareilles first achieved mainstream critical praise in 2007 with her widely successful hit, "Love Song" which reached #1 in 22 countries around the world from her debut album LITTLE VOICE. Since then, the Eureka, CA native has gone on to sell over 1 million copies of her debut album, earn 3 Grammy nominations including Song of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Love Song." Bareilles' critically acclaimed sophomore release KALEIDOSCOPE HEART was released in September of 2010, debuted at #1 on the Billboard top 200 chart and has gained critical praise everywhere including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, People and Los Angeles Times. The album yielded the hit single “King of Anything,” which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and was certified platinum by the RIAA. In 2011, Bareilles joined the judge’s panel on the hit NBC show “The Sing-Off.” In early 2012, Bareilles released a documentary called “A Trace of the Sun: Volunteering in Japan,” which chronicled her trip to Japan where she joined All Hands Volunteer efforts in the city of Ofunato after the 2011 earthquake and subsequent tsunami that devastated coastal cities and left over 26,000 people without homes. Soon after she released her critically acclaimed ONCE UPON ANOTHER TIME EP, which was produced by singer/songwriter and fellow “Sing-Off” judge Ben Folds. For more information, please visit www.sarabmusic.com.
