Band Together and SpreadMusicNow – Connecticut-based nonprofits dedicated to improving children’s lives through music education – held a highly successful benefit concert on May 30th, which broke Band Together’s fundraising record for a single event, raising a total of $78,000, including over $72,000 in donations for underserved student’s music education. Connecticut-based BeFoundation provided a $25,000 grant to the SpreadMusicNow Fund at Fairfield County’s Community Foundation to match donations raised by the coalition of 13 nonprofits collaborating to strengthen music and arts education for needy Connecticut youngsters: BackCountry Jazz, Charter Oak Cultural Center, Creative Connections, KEYS, INTAKE Music, Hartford Performs, Litchfield Jazz Camp, Little Kids Rock, Music Haven, Neighborhood Studios, Project Music, Westport Arts Center, and WPKN.
The concert, A Night at Studio 54 in Support of Music Education, featured a dance and funk show channeling the popular nightclub, Studio 54. The evening’s main event, Band Together, put on an amazing performance – belting out tightly honed renditions of 70s and 80s dance classics that kept everyone on their feet the entire night. Two student ensembles performed: the Charter Oak Cultural Center’s Good Vibrations rap group prepared the crowd for an amazing night with a pre-show routine in the lobby and Project Music’s bucket drummers kept everyone entertained during the break. Several nonprofit leaders – themselves professional musicians – joined the stage as special guests, including Rob Silvan of the KEYS Program, Bennie Wallace of BackCountry Jazz and Angie Durrell from INTAKE Music.
“SpreadMusicNow helps students develop as musicians and build their college and career pathways,” said Richard J. Wenning, BeFoundation’s executive director, “this event was a tremendous example of collective effort and excitement about helping our youth and strengthening community.”
Band Together cofounder Jerry Vigorito said, “we have great momentum and are thrilled by the popularity of our concerts and our charity fundraising efforts have exceeded our expectations.” He added, “Our partnership with SpreadMusicNow is the main reason we blew past our earlier fundraising efforts. We had great chemistry, numerous charities, guest artists and kids, all with a fun theme, which combined for a perfect evening of music and giving.”
On the whole, it was a night of energy, inspiration and fun – all in support of music education. This is only the beginning of our statewide initiative to bring music and arts education to underserved youth in Connecticut.
ABOUT SPREAD MUSIC NOW
SpreadMusicNow is a fund established by Connecticut-based nonprofit BeFoundation to help musically-inspired children and teens develop as musicians and creative thinkers. SpreadMusicNow funds music instruction for underserved youth, helping to shape their futures and build lifelong success. BeFoundation established the SpreadMusicNow Fund at Fairfield County’s Community Foundation. For more information visit www.spreadmusicnow.org.
ABOUT BAND TOGETHER
Founded in 2006, Band Together CT concerts have grown into a “go to musical event” receiving numerous “Best Of” awards. Band Together CT unites a network of talented musicians and artists with nonprofit organizations to raise funds for children and families in need of a helping hand. Band Together CT has helped raise over $1.4 million for local charities and families. For more information visit http://bandtogetherct.com.
ABOUT BEFOUNDATION
BeFoundation is a private, family foundation based in Redding, CT dedicated to transforming the lives and communities of disadvantaged youth in Connecticut. BeFoundation invests in organizations that share a commitment to expanding the pathways available for college, career and life success while building creative, smart and engaged communities. For more information visit www.befoundation.org or call 203-938-9000.