As education budgets are cut all over the country, arts programs are often the first to see their funding cut or eliminated altogether. As lovers of music and people who earn our living in the arts, we find it discouraging that students today may not have the same opportunities as we did to develop their talent in, and appreciation for, music.
Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation provides a lifeline to school and after-school music programs by providing them with new and refurbished instruments. Many of these programs no longer have the budget to repair or replace their aging instruments. Without the foundation's help, low-income students who cannot afford to buy instruments would be unable to participate. Sadly, these are often the kids who are most in need of these kinds of enrichment programs.
Please consider a gift to MHOF, which earns a 4 (out of 4) stars with the charity evaluating site, charitynavigator.org, and which devotes an impressive 96% of its budget directly to its charitable programs.