Our Past Featured Organizations

People's Music School
A non-profit charity,The People’s Music School, as the only totally free community music school in the United States, is a unique and special place. The School embodies the vision of its founder, Dr. Rita Simo. Rita learned to play the piano in her native Dominican Republic. After operating for twenty years in rented, makeshift quarters, the School constructed its own, specially designed facility in 1995. Today, the School’s thirty-three teachers offer instruction in thirteen different instruments (plus theory and voice) to nearly 500 different students each year. The vast majority of these students are children of ethnic minorities. (Photo: Muriel Anderson with Riata Simo and Vincent Centeno)

www.peoplesmusicschool.org

Rock for Kids
Rock For Kids is a non-profit organization that provides support, inspiration and assistance to children that are homeless or in need. Committed to the dignity of our children, Rock For Kids works with families and organizations to positively impact and celebrate young lives.
Rock For Kids began as a holiday fundraising effort in 1988 with the goal to provide gifts for children living in homeless shelters. Youth Jam. Rock For Kids ' largest program brings free year-round music education to underprivileged and homeless children throughout the Chicago area. Through free music lessons Rock For Kids works to improve the self-esteem and confidence of the students, while introducing them to the joy of music. Initiated in 2000, with twenty students, the program now serves close to 500 children annually at fifteen Chicago sites. (Photo: Muriel Anerson with Paul Doppelt of Rock for Kids)

www.rockforkids.org

Special mention to Washburn Guitars
Washburn Guitars, a mainstay of the Chicago area since 1883, was also honored for their long term support of music education. They were one of the first companies to support of the efforts of the Music for life Alliance, and throughout the years have donated instruments and raised funds for other music education charities as well.

www.washburn.com