More than 100 supporters of music education gathered at the Hummingbird Nest Ranch this month for a private fundraiser, where they adopted 12 music programs from across the United States. The programs ranged from school music classrooms to music therapy programs. "Adopt a Music Program. Save a Life," raised almost $30,000 to be distributed in the form of musical instruments to the following programs:

· The Recreation Therapy Department’s music therapy program at TriHealth SeniorLink in Cincinnati
· The Guitar Heroes Enrichment Cluster at Arlington Elementary and Middle School in Baltimore
· The music program for the residents of Holy Family Social Services in Pittsburgh
· The music program for students with special needs in Newfield Central Schools in Newfield, N.Y.
· The music class of Detroit Premier Academy in Detroit
· The Musical Strings Alternative at YMCA of the Suncoast in Clearwater, Fla.
· The guitar program at Western Valley Middle School in Phoenix
· The beginning guitar class at Pomona High School in Pomona, Calif.
· The music class at St. Rose Elementary School in St. Rose, La.
· Voices Together, a music therapy program in Chapel Hill, N.C., for individuals with developmental disabilities
· The music program at Creative Planet, which houses more than 90 children from the Los Angeles metropolitan area
· Tacolcy, an Artspring music program created to reach at-risk youth in South Florida

The selected programs were chosen based on their applications. To be eligible, programs needed to demonstrate they not only taught music to those who would otherwise not have the opportunity, but also they were committed to the ongoing success of their program.

"There are so many people out there who don’t have the opportunity to learn how to make music. What a gift it is that we can help 12 amazing programs grow so they can reach more people," said Executive Director Moriah Harris-Rodger. "If we can save one life, it’s all worth it."

Donors included guitarist John 5, as well as the Give Music Life Club from Tesoro High School in Las Flores, Calif. The club’s founders, Connor Cushman and Evan Goldman, both presented their $5,000 check to adopt Voices Together at the event. The high school club raised the donation at a fundraiser of their own.

"This event was hugely successful due to the collective board efforts, but mainly because of the generosity and passion of our friends and donors. Because of them, we will have the opportunity to enrich hundreds of lives with music," said Board Member Laurel Kaufman.

To learn more, visit fendermusicfoundation.org/