Verona, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/03/2017 -- Little Kids Rock has been named a grant recipient of The NAMM Foundation. The organization was selected as one of 24 organizations to receive a grant to fund vital programs that create and support access to musical instruction and that serve to inspire a life-long love of making music in its population.

"We are so pleased to benefit Little Kids Rock with a grant in their quest to continue to create access and opportunities for all people to experience the joy of making music," shared Mary Luehrsen, Executive Director of The NAMM Foundation. "It is through the transformative work of nonprofit music service organizations such as Little Kids Rock that thousands of people will discover their own musical talent."

The grants serve to underscore the Foundation's mission to advance participation in music making and offer quality access to all people. As one of 24 recipients, Little Kids Rock utilized the resource as a means to support the organization's 5th annual national teacher conference, Modern Band Rockfest 2017. The event is not your standard teacher conference--it is the national Modern Band movement-building revival! Modern Band Rockfest is the place where the nation's music teachers come to be renewed and reenergized by passionate, like-minded educators who believe in the power of a contemporary, culturally-relevant, student-driven music education.

"When the inspirational presentations by special guest artists and arts advocates are done for the day, the impromptu, all-inclusive jam sessions begin, and they serve to remind us of the joy that is mutual music making; a joy that teachers bring back to their classrooms and instill in their students. We are grateful to the NAMM Foundation for their investment in our teachers, giving them the skills and resources they need to ensure our young people receive the music education they deserve," says David Wish, Founder, and CEO of Little Kids Rock.

Modern Band Rockfest took place over four days (July 28-31), and was held on the campus of Colorado State

University in Fort Collins, CO. The conference featured more than 50 professional development sessions and convened more than 380 attendees including Modern Band practitioners, school district administrators, leaders in higher education, arts advocates, and other supporters from across the country and around the world.

Since its inception in 1994, The NAMM Foundation's annual grant program has donated more than $16 million in support of domestic and international music education programs, scientific research, advocacy and public service programs related to music making. The grants are funded in part by donations from the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) and its 10,300 member companies worldwide.

For additional information about Little Kids Rock, please contact:
Kat Kelly, Marketing and Communications Manager
973-746-8248
kat@littlekidsrock.org

About Little Kids Rock
Little Kids Rock is a national nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives by restoring, expanding, and innovating music education in our schools. The organization partners with public school districts to train teachers to run its innovative Modern Band curriculum, and donates all the accompanying instruments and resources necessary to teach popular music in a way that empowers students to experience instant achievement. What began as a single after-school guitar class has since exploded into a national movement that brings free, weekly music lessons to more than 320,000 public school children through the efforts of more than 2,000 teachers in 188 school districts nationwide. To date, Little Kids Rock has served more than 650,000 students.

More info at http://www.littlekidsrock.org.

About The NAMM Foundation
The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit organization funded in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its 10,300 members. The Foundation's mission is to advance active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving, and public service programs.

For more information about The NAMM Foundation, please visit http://www.nammfoundation.org.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Verona, NJ -- (ReleaseWire) -- 06/29/2017 -- Little Kids Rock, the nation's leading nonprofit provider of popular music instruction, instruments, and curricula, is pleased to announce the appointment of Janice Polizzotto as its new Chief Development Officer (CDO). Ms. Polizzotto previously served on the organization's National Board of Directors and will begin operating in her new role on July 1, 2017.

As the new CDO, Ms. Polizzotto will focus on managing overall fundraising strategy, achieving financial sustainability, and stewarding large corporate partners and individual donors. She will also forge new relationships with major donors and partners to support the organization's anticipated growth and expansion.

Ms. Polizzotto's years of experience in corporate giving, fundraising and strategic partnerships, most recently as Senior Development Officer, Providence Foundations, Southern California, will serve to further the impact and mission of Little Kids Rock. Prior to Providence, she founded Social Wisdom, LLC, and held a senior management position with CBS EcoMedia, managing strategic partnerships and national programs. Ms. Polizzotto also founded the successful endeavor, The Polizzotto Group, LLC, with clients including Tony Industry Association, White Plains Hospital, California Pizza Kitchen, St. Anne's, and Little Company of Mary Hospital. Ms. Polizzotto also served as the inaugural Executive Director of Children Affected by AIDS Foundation. In addition to her role as CDO, Ms. Polizzotto plans to continue to serve on the Los Angeles Advisory Council for Common Sense Media, and the Membership Committee of Women in Toys, Licensing, and Entertainment (WIT).

"I am thrilled to be joining the Little Kids Rock family and to be a part of the passion and commitment I've witnessed firsthand over the past seven years," Ms. Polizzotto shares. "Little Kids Rock has long been close to my heart and so it is an honor and a privilege for me to jump on board in the spirit of collaboration and teamwork and work with the team to bring music into the souls of every child, everywhere."

"We are excited to bring Janice to Little Kids Rock with her passion for and deep understanding of philanthropy, partnerships, and system change," says Little Kids Rock Founder and CEO, David Wish. "Little Kids Rock is on the precipice of tremendous growth and bringing Janice on board in this capacity will ensure we are able to scale our programming and continue to transform lives through music."

About Little Kids Rock
Little Kids Rock is a national nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives by restoring, expanding, and innovating music education in our schools. The organization partners with public school districts to train teachers to run its innovative Modern Band curriculum, and donates all the accompanying instruments and resources necessary to teach popular music in a way that empowers students to experience instant achievement. What began as a single after-school guitar class has since exploded into a national movement that brings free, weekly music lessons to over 275,000 public school children through the efforts of more than 1,800 teachers in nearly 200 school districts nationwide. To date, Little Kids Rock has served more than 500,000 students.

More info at http://www.littlekidsrock.org.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

National nonprofit brings rock, pop, hip-hop and more to the music classrooms of more than 2,500 Oakland and San Francisco Area Public School students.

Oakland, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 03/27/2017 -- This Saturday, 60 public school teachers from the Oakland and San Francisco Unified School Districts and from the surrounding areas will each receive thousands of dollars of brand new guitars, keyboards, electric basses, drum sets and the latest technology to use with students in their classrooms. Along with the instrument donation, teachers will be attending free workshops that instruct them on how to teach culturally relevant and student-centered music which will allow them to engage more students and expand their music programs.

This new crop of Little Kids Rock teachers is anticipated to receive a donation of approximately 900 musical instruments which they will use to provide music lessons to more than 2,500 students. Funding for this donation to the schools was made possible by the Bill Graham Memorial Foundation and The Milagro Foundation. These teachers are the most recent group to receive professional development and resources from Little Kids Rock, joining colleagues from 1,800 schools in 127 school districts in the United States who have already established Little Kids Rock curriculum in their classes and reach more than 275,000 students annually.

Little Kids Rock in the nation's leading provider of instruction on music programs that teach kids the popular musical styles of the past 60 years, from rock and reggae to Latin and R&B, among other genres. The method focuses on improvisation, composition, and getting kids to play on day one. The program, which is part of burgeoning national movement is known as Modern Band, and complements existing music electives such as jazz band, choral ensembles, marching band, and orchestra. At Little Kids Rock's Modern Band workshops, teachers play guitar, keyboards, bass, and drums, write and perform their own songs, and learn how to teach a Little Kids Rock music program at their schools.

WHAT: Little Kids Rock will train 60 Oakland Area Public School teachers in its Modern Band music program and equip them with curricula, instruments, and resources to help them launch the program in their schools.

WHEN: Saturday, March 25, 2017 9:00 am-5:00 pm

WHERE: Frick Impact Academy, 2845 64th Ave Oakland, CA 94605

Media are encouraged to attend. Interview and photo opportunities are available. Please contact kat@littlekidsrock.org.

About Little Kids Rock
Little Kids Rock is a national nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives by restoring, expanding, and innovating music education in our schools. The organization partners with public school districts to train teachers to run its innovative Modern Band curriculum, and donates all the accompanying instruments and resources necessary to teach popular music in a way that empowers students to experience instant achievement. What began as a single after-school guitar class has since exploded into a national movement that brings free, weekly music lessons to over 275,000 public school children through the efforts of more than 1,800 teachers in 127 school districts nationwide. To date, Little Kids Rock has served more than 500,000 students.

More info at http://www.littlekidsrock.org.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Little Kids Rock welcomes new board Chair.

Verona, NJ -- (ReleaseWire) -- 02/03/2017 -- Little Kids Rock, the nation's leading nonprofit provider of music instruction, instruments and curricula announced new leadership of its Board of Directors earlier this month. California-based singer/songwriter Chris Donohoe will assume the role this month from former Chairman of the Board, Mark Lipson of Bessemer Trust. Donohoe has been a Director on Little Kids Rock's National Board since 2015 and previously served as Chair of the organization's San Francisco Area Advisory Board.

"We are excited to congratulate Chris on his leadership role in the National Board of Directors," says Little Kids Rock Executive Director and Founder, David Wish. "With his many years of support and insight into the organization, he is the perfect match." Wish added, "Chris is focused on three things: mission, mission, and mission. That is why he is such a great fit for our organization."

Born in Sunnyvale, California, Donohoe grew up listening to his parents' vinyl record collection and the eclectic mix of artists like The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, Neil Diamond, Burt Bacharach, Judy Collins, Benny Goodman, and The Fifth Dimension, to name a few. Chris always had music in his head, but it wasn't until college that he picked up a guitar and was hooked.

Though his music pursuits took a back seat as to pursuing a career as a TV Weather Anchor; Chris always had his guitar close at hand. Perhaps it was destiny that landed him television jobs in such storied music towns as Muscle Shoals, Alabama and Bakersfield, California because, Chris' passion for music and songwriting proved stronger than the storms he covered as a weather anchor, and he left television in 2001 to follow his passion and be a singer/songwriter in the ultimate music city, Nashville, Tennessee.

Now living in San Francisco with his wife Robin and their four children, Chris is a prolific songwriter and recording artist, releasing one project a year. "Music has always been incredibly important to who I am. It makes me feel alive, and it motivates me tremendously," Donohoe shared.

He is also motivated to share a passion for music with children nationwide. "I believe music is essential to human existence, and when kids play music it does wonders for their brains, their souls, and it builds a community which is so important in every school we serve," added Donohoe. In 2016, Little Kids Rock achieved the incredible milestone of reaching half of a million kids through its innovative program. Under the direction of Donohoe, the organization is poised to reach one million students within the next five years.

About Little Kids Rock
Little Kids Rock is a national nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives by restoring, expanding, and innovating music education in our schools. The organization partners with public school districts to train teachers to run its innovative Modern Band curriculum, and donates all the accompanying instruments and resources necessary to teach popular music in a way that empowers students to experience instant achievement. What began as a single after-school guitar class has since exploded into a national movement that brings free, weekly music lessons to more than 250,000 public school children through the efforts of more than 1,800 teachers in 127 school districts nationwide. To date, Little Kids Rock has served more than 500,000 students.

More info at http://www.littlekidsrock.org

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

National nonprofit partners with Niagara Cares to donate music education benefitting more than 2,000 Fontana Area Public School students.

Fontana, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 02/03/2017 -- This Saturday, dozens of public school teachers from the Fontana area will gather to expand their music education background and rock out with their peers. To ensure all of their students have an opportunity to have music programs that are as diverse as they are, the educators are training on a new and innovative music program. The training is provided by Little Kids Rock, a leading provider of free instruments and music instruction to U.S. public schools.

This new crop of Little Kids Rock teachers is anticipated to receive a donation of approximately 400 musical instruments including guitars, basses, drum sets, and keyboards, which they will use to provide music lessons to nearly 2,000 students. Funding for this donation to the schools was made possible by Niagara Cares, a philanthropic arm of Niagara Bottling that supports initiatives serving children and families in need. These teachers are the most recent group to receive professional development and resources from Little Kids Rock, joining colleagues from 1,800 schools in 127 school districts in the United States who have already established Little Kids Rock curriculum in their classes and reach more than 275,000 students annually.

Little Kids Rock's music programs teach kids the popular musical styles of the past 60 years, from rock and reggae to Latin and R&B, among other genres. The method focuses on improvisation, composition, and getting kids to play on day one. The program, which is part of burgeoning national movement is known as Modern Band, and complements existing music electives such as jazz band, choral ensembles, marching band, and orchestra. At Little Kids Rock's Modern Band workshops, teachers play guitar, keyboards, bass, and drums, write and perform their own songs, and learn how to teach a Little Kids Rock music program at their schools.

WHAT: Little Kids Rock will train 20 Fontana Area Public School teachers in its Modern Band music program and equip them with curricula, instruments, and resources to help them launch the program in their schools.

WHEN: Saturday, February 4, 2017 9:00 am-5:00 pm

WHERE: Fontana Unified District Headquarters, 9680 Citrus Ave, Fontana, CA 92335

Media are encouraged to attend. Interview and photo opportunities are available. Please contact kat@littlekidsrock.org.

About Little Kids Rock
Little Kids Rock is a national nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives by restoring, expanding, and innovating music education in our schools. The organization partners with public school districts to train teachers to run its innovative Modern Band curriculum, and donates all the accompanying instruments and resources necessary to teach popular music in a way that empowers students to experience instant achievement. What began as a single after-school guitar class has since exploded into a national movement that brings free, weekly music lessons to over 250,000 public school children through the efforts of more than 1,800 teachers in 127 school districts nationwide. To date, Little Kids Rock has served more than 500,000 students.

More info at http://www.littlekidsrock.org.

About Niagara Cares
Niagara Cares, a philanthropic arm of Niagara Bottling, is committed to supporting local and national community initiatives serving children and families in need by engaging stakeholders and investing its resources. Niagara Cares efforts include national strategic partnerships, local community grants, employee engagement, volunteerism and the Andrew D. Peykoff, Sr. Scholarship Program.

For more information, visit http://www.niagarawater.com/niagara-cares.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Loggins will deliver instruments to and jam with students from Woodrow Wilson Middle School to celebrate raising $1.1 Million at national nonprofit Little Kids Rock’s benefit in New York City.

Glendale, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 01/26/2017 -- On the heels of his performance as the 2016 "Humanitarian of the Year" at the annual Little Kids Rock Benefit in New York City, Kenny Loggins will be giving students at Woodrow Wilson Middle School in Glendale more than a million reasons to make beautiful music. On January 26, Loggins will make a special appearance to collaborate and perform with the students, and deliver brand new instruments to support the school's music education program. This is all part of Little Kids Rock's mission of transforming lives by restoring, expanding and innovating music education in public schools.

"During that period where you are a teenager, and you don't know what to say, and you don't know how to express what you feel, music comes in to bridge that gap for you-to be that way of expressing your heart," Loggins said. "Every child should experience the power of music. I'm really proud and honored to be a part of the Little Kids Rock family."

Loggins' performance at the sold-out benefit last October not only brought the crowd to its feet but also helped raise $1.1 million to establish youth-centered, culturally relevant music education in schools across the United States. Because these funds will bring Little Kids Rock's program to tens of thousands of additional children nationwide, Mr. Loggins is taking time out of his busy schedule to personally deliver the first of more than ten thousand brand new instruments, including guitars, drums, and amps to the students at Woodrow Wilson Middle School.

"We are so grateful that Mr. Loggins is taking the time to support and inspire our kids and teachers," said Chris Donohoe, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Little Kids Rock. "Not only did he help to raise such significant funding at the benefit, but he's also jumping right in to make such a huge impact on these kids."

The donation will kick off Little Kids Rock's 2017 music education expansion initiative in the state of California. Following Mr. Loggins' visit, Little Kids Rock will launch instrumental music programs in 30 additional schools throughout the Los Angeles area and host a Modern Band Workshop on Saturday, January 28 where teachers will be trained on how to run a music program rooted in popular music.

WHAT: GRAMMY® Award-winning singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins visits middle school for a special collaborative performance and Q&A with the music students followed by surprise generous donation of gear to celebrate the successful fundraising event at which he was honored.

WHERE: Woodrow Wilson Middle School - 1221 Monterey Rd, Glendale, CA 91206

WHEN: Thursday, January 26, 9:45 am - 11:00 am

Media are encouraged to attend. Interview and photo opportunities are available. To RSVP or for more information on the upcoming workshop, please contact kat@littlekidsrock.org.

About Little Kids Rock
Little Kids Rock is a national nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives by restoring, expanding, and innovating music education in our schools. The organization partners with public school districts to train teachers to run its innovative Modern Band curriculum and donates all the accompanying instruments and resources necessary to teach popular music in a way that empowers students to experience instant achievement. What began as a single after-school guitar class has since exploded into a national movement that brings free, weekly music lessons to more than 250,000 public school children through the efforts of more than 1,800 teachers in 127 school districts nationwide. To date, Little Kids Rock has served more than 500,000 students.

More info at http://www.littlekidsrock.org

About Kenny Loggins
Kenny Loggins' remarkable four-decade-plus career has brought him from the top of the charts to the toast of the Grammys. He's had smash hits on Hollywood's favorite soundtracks, rocked worldwide stages, and found his way into children's hearts while bringing his soulful, beautiful voice to platinum albums of a stunning variety of genres. His gift for crafting deeply emotional music is unparalleled, and it's been a part of his life as long as he can remember.

Though he's got 12 platinum albums, a pair of Grammys, and hits on almost all the Billboard charts under his belt, Loggins is far from done. Since 2010, Loggins has been onstage with the country trio, Blue Sky Riders. The group released its debut album, Finally Home, on its own record label, 3Dream Records, in January 2013 and is currently working on their second album, Why Not. Last October, he released his latest children's project, the book Footloose (Moondance Press, an imprint of Quarto Publishing Group USA), inspired by his 1985 Oscar® nominated and Grammy® Award-winning "Song of the Year." With more projects in the works, he's still looking forward to what's next. "I feel very lucky that this is the way I make my living, and not a lot of people can say that," Loggins says. "I've been lucky that I love what I do and I get to keep doing it."

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Music teachers to receive training, curriculum and musical instruments that will benefit nearly 6,000 Chicago Public School students

Chicago, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/04/2016 -- This Saturday, 26 Chicago Public Schools teachers will gather to expand their music education background and rock out with their peers. To ensure all of their students have an opportunity to have music programs that are as diverse as they are, the educators are training on a new and innovative music program — Modern Band. The program is part of a burgeoning national movement pioneered by Little Kids Rock, a leading provider of free instruments and music instruction to U.S. public schools. Little Kids Rock currently operates in more than 1,700 schools in 127 school districts in the United States, and has served more than 500,000 students since 2002.

Last month, thousands of Modern Band students participated in the first School Year Kickoff Concert in Millennium Park with Rock Legend Jim Peterik and Former Cub Ryan Dempster. Evan Plummer. Director of Arts Education at Chicago Public Schools, spoke to the students, and encouraged them to tell their schools how much they want the Modern Band program expanded. "There's some people that think why would you learn popular music?" he said. "Did you know that once upon a time jazz music used to be on the side, marginalized, not understood, not appreciated? Now look where jazz is. It's a part of our curriculum. We want to do the same thing with rock music, pop music, and hip-hop."

This new crop of Modern Band teachers in Chicago is anticipated to receive a donation of 650 musical instruments including guitars, basses, drum sets, and keyboards, which they will use to provide music lessons to nearly 6,000 students. These teachers are the most recent group to receive professional development and resources from Little Kids Rock, joining colleagues from 123 Chicago Public Schools who have already established Modern Band curriculum in their classes and reach nearly 24,000 students annually. Students from McAuliffe Elementary School who currently participate in the program are scheduled to perform for the newly trained teachers and give them a glimpse of the success they have to look forward to.

Modern Band music programs teach the commercially contemporary musical styles of the past 60 years, from rock and reggae to Latin and R&B, among other genres, with a heavy focus on improvisation, composition, and getting kids to play on day one. Modern Band complements existing music programs such as jazz band, choral ensembles, marching band, and orchestra. At Little Kids Rock's Modern Band workshops, teachers play guitar, keyboards, bass, and drums, write and perform their own songs, and learn how to teach a Modern Band music program at their schools. Funding for this donation to the Chicago Public Schools was secured by the Katherine W. Hoffman Chicago Area Advisory Board.

WHAT: Little Kids Rock will train 26 Chicago Public School teachers in its Modern Band music program and equip them with curricula, instruments, and resources to help them launch the program in their schools.

WHEN: Saturday, November 5th 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Student performance begins at 12:00 pm

WHERE: McAuliffe Elementary, 1841 N Springfield Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Media are encouraged to attend. Interview and photo opportunities are available. Please contact kat@littlekidsrock.org.

About Little Kids Rock
Little Kids Rock is a national nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives by restoring, expanding, and innovating music education in our schools. The organization partners with public school districts to train teachers to run its innovative Modern Band curriculum, and donates all the accompanying instruments and resources necessary to teach popular music in a way that empowers students to experience instant achievement. What began as a single after-school guitar class has since exploded into a national movement that brings free, weekly music lessons to over 250,000 public school children through the efforts of more than 1,700 teachers in 127 school districts nationwide. To date, Little Kids Rock has served more than 500,000 students.

More info at http://www.littlekidsrock.org

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm