Give a Note Foundation and 21st Century Fox Announce 20 Winning #MusicEdIdol Schools
Leading into the new school year 21st Century Fox and Give a Note Foundation came together once again to present a new grant opportunity for 20 schools. The “MusicEd Idol” competition was announced last July, and schools were invited to submit nominations for “Music Education Idols” who inspired them to dream big and follow their passion for music.
Students, parents, and the general public nominated music educators by completing a short application and including a video testimonial describing how the music teacher inspired them to discover their creative potential. The stories were definitely inspiring. The influence of music educators around the nation made a positive impression on many students, and the bright light these teachers have been in their students’ lives was apparent. View 21st Century Fox’s video congratulating the winners.
Music Ed Idols 2016 from 21CF Impact on Vimeo.
Following is the list of the 20 “MusicEd Idols” whose school music programs will receive $1,000 grants courtesy of 21st Century Fox and Give a Note Foundation:
| Teacher | School | City | State |
| Rosa Rabinovich | N. S. Edelcup Sunny Isles Beach K-8 | Sunny Isles Beach | Florida |
| Lynette Carr-Hicks | Uniondale High School | Uniondale | New York |
| Rich Guillen | Arlington High School | LaGrangeville | New York |
| Daryl Yasay | West Orange High School | Winter Garden | Florida |
| Kendra Martin | Lilla G. Frederick Pilot Middle School | Boston | Massachusetts |
| Brian Langdon | Boyertown High School | Boyertown | Pennsylvania |
| Jennifer Jimenez | South Miami Senior High School | Miami | Florida |
| Deb Schaaf | Jane Addams Middle School | Seattle | Washington |
| Lori Lovell | Maitland Middle School | Maitland | Florida |
| Colin O’Dwyer | James Otis Elementary School | Boston | Massachusetts |
| Mitzi Lundy | Elzie D. Patton Elementary School | Mt. Juliet | Tennessee |
| Christopher Hanson | San Marcos High School | San Marcos | Texas |
| Bridget P. Speranza | Munster High School | Munster | Indiana |
| Daniel E. Graf | Eastport South Manor High School | Manorville | New York |
| Emmanuel Toledo | Ninth Grade Academy, Lawrence HS | Lawrence | Massachusetts |
| Benjamin Davis | East Aurora Middle School | East Aurora | New York |
| Jesse Espinosa | Waltrip High School | Houston | Texas |
| Ryan Solero | Tenth Grade Academy, Lawrence HS | Lawrence | Massachusetts |
| Lorrie Turner | Irmo Middle School | Irmo | South Carolina |
| Greg Monsma | Butler High School | Louisville | Kentucky |
This latest round of grants continues a five-year collaborative relationship supporting music education between Give a Note Foundation and 21st Century Fox.
“These stories cannot be told enough, and we encourage communities to support their local school’s music programs and the teachers who make them possible.”
“We appreciate the continued support of 21st Century Fox to reach more students in more schools with the power of music,” said Jane Mell Balek, Give a Note Chief Executive Officer. “This is a wonderful opportunity to shine a spotlight on great music programs, which benefit students in all U.S. schools. These stories cannot be told enough, and we encourage communities to support their local school’s music programs and the teachers who make them possible.”
Alandra L. Abrams accepts the Give a Note check in 2015 on behalf of the Tilden Middle School Music Program.
Since 2011, 21st Century Fox businesses have donated more than $1 million to underfunded music programs in schools across the country, as part of the company’s commitment to support the next generation of artists and creators.
“We were so inspired by the students who submitted nominations and the music educators who motivate them every day to work hard and achieve their dreams,” said Shira Oberlander, Executive Director of Social Impact for 21st Century Fox. “We are thrilled to support these teachers in their work to make a difference in students’ lives.”
Of the 20 winning music educators, these five have been selected to attend the 2016 NAfME National In-Service Conference (November 10-13) in Grapevine, TX, as VIP guests and will take part in a panel discussion on how to help students reach their full potential:
- Lynette Carr-Hicks (Uniondale, NY)
- Lorrie Turner (Irmo, SC)
- Christopher Hanson (San Marcos, TX)
- Ryan Solero (Lawrence, MA)
- Emmanuel Toledo (Lawrence, MA)
Individuals are encouraged to continue sharing their own stories on their personal social media channels such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, using the hashtag #MusicEdIdol.
To learn more about Give a Note Foundation, visit www.giveanote.org. To learn more about 21st Century Fox Social Impact, visit impact.21CF.com.
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Media Contacts:
Jane Mell Balek
Give a Note Foundation
(703) 860-4000 ext. 228
janeb@giveanote.org
Nathaniel Brown
21st Century Fox
(212) 852-7746
nbrown@21CF.com
About 21st Century Fox
21st Century Fox is the world’s premier portfolio of cable, broadcast, film, pay TV and satellite assets spanning six continents across the globe. Reaching more than 1.8 billion subscribers in approximately 50 local languages every day, 21st Century Fox is home to a global portfolio of cable and broadcasting networks and properties, including FOX, FX, FXX, FXM, FS1, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, FOX Sports, Fox Sports Networks, National Geographic Partners, STAR India, 28 local television stations in the U.S. and more than 350 international channels; film studio Twentieth Century Fox Film; and television production studios Twentieth Century Fox Television and a 50% ownership interest in Endemol Shine Group. The Company also holds a 39.1% ownership interest in Sky, Europe’s leading entertainment company, which serves 21 million customers across five countries. For more information about 21st Century Fox, please visit www.21CF.com.
