Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!

As we enjoy this holiday we always take time to be thankful for all we have. Our friends at Ariel Publicity have put together a list of charities to help some of those we all know who help out fellow musicians in need. Choose one and share some of your bounty this year.

MusiCares
MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares' services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, and each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. MusiCares also focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community.

Website Link: grammy.com/MusiCares

Donation Link: grammy.com/Donate



World Hunger Year - Artists Against Hunger & Poverty


WHY is a leading advocate for innovative, community-based solutions to hunger and poverty. WHY challenges society to confront these problems by advancing models that create self-reliance, economic justice, and equal access to nutritious and affordable food. WHY was founded by a musician - the late great Harry Chapin and is currently chaired by his daughter Jen Chapin. Artists Against Hunger & Poverty (AAHP) is WHY's program that enlists performing artists to help raise funds and awareness for the most innovative and effective community-based organizations working to combat hunger and poverty. WHY offers artists, record labels, managers, agents and fan clubs an opportunity to take a stand by using their voices and resources effectively — while doing what they already do so well.

Website Link: yhunger.org

Donation Link: donation


Musicians on Call
Musicians On Call uses music to promote and complement the healing process for patients, families and caregivers. Musicians On Call, a nonprofit organization formed in 1999, brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities. Musicians On Call uses music to promote and complement the healing process for patients, families and caregivers.

Website: musiciansoncall.org

Donation Link: donation

They can also use donations of classical and children’s music CDs



New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita forced many musicians to flee New Orleans. Jazz, blues, and other genres that are the city's musical score, cannot return until the musicians return. Facing rising housing costs, a shortage of decent units, and a national mortgage crisis, the Musicians' Village is providing local musicians and other qualifiying partner families the opportunity to own a home in a thriving community of committed individuals and families. Conceived by Harry Connick, Jr. and Branford Marsalis, the Musicians' Village will consist of 70 single-family, Habitat-constructed homes and 10 rental units for the older "music masters" of New Orleans. Its centerpiece will be the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, dedicated to the music education and development of homeowners and others who will live nearby.

Website: habitat-nola.org

Donation Link: donate online



Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation
The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation (MHOF) donates new and refurbished musical instruments to underserved schools, community music programs and individual students nationwide, in an effort to give youngsters the many benefits of music education, help them to be better students and inspire creativity and expression through playing music. Because of the financial and in-kind support of concerned and motivated music lovers, more than 500,000 young students have new opportunities and experiences available to them. They have been given something that will generate lifelong benefits and memories. Teachers, parents and those in their community see every day how much this simple thing, giving a child an instrument to play, can change their life forever. In eleven years, 746 music programs and 103 schools in six states affected by Hurricane Katrina are now giving their students a better music education experience because of widespread financial and in-kind support.

Website: mhopus.org

Donation Link: donation

If you are interested in helping the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, there are several ways to be involved!

Donate by mailing a check or an instrument: MHOF accepts donations of gently used band and orchestral instruments. We cannot accept pianos, organs or guitars. To donate, please send your well-packaged instrument to the address below, and include your name, address, phone number and e-mail address inside the package. To expedite processing of your donation, we will accept an appraisal from a qualified music dealer of your choosing. Please include, on the dealer's official letterheard or form, the appraised value and description of your instrument. MHOF will send you a letter of thanks, with the appraised value for tax purposes. If you cannot have the instrument appraised, MHOF will have it appraised for you.

Mail to:
The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation
15125 Ventura Blvd. Suite 204
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

Donate by phone: Call the Foundation at 818.784.6787 to contribute using your credit card.