There’s no better way to ring in our Summer NAMM issue than with good news: the great things happening in MI today. Many manufacturers have stepped up to the plate to help their communities, charities and others in need. They’ve done so despite the difficult times we’ve faced. This story is perhaps vendors’ favorite to participate in each year. This is the third time we’re presenting this story and we hope to feature these great activities every year. We’re going to present their stories in no particular order.
Chauvet teamed up with the charity Food For the Poor to raise funds for the construction of new homes in Haiti. The lighting company hoped to raise $52,000 in four months to build 20 homes. Chauvet has set up the www.foorforthepoor.org Web site, which is dedicated to fundraising. “This is a human tragedy that we can all relate to,” Albert Chauvet said. “The good news is that, with very little money, you can have a huge, concrete impact in someone else’s life.”
Ace Products’ John Maher is on the board of directors of the Petaluma (Calif.) Music Festival. The non-profit organization is dedicated to saving music programs in Petaluma public schools. Maher is helping to raise awareness for an Aug. 7 charity event by collecting autographed guitars from stars like Peter Frampton, Quincy Jones, Yoko Ono, Joe Satriani, “Weird” Al Yankovic, Slash and Ted Nugent. All proceeds from the event at the local fairgrounds will go to save school music programs.
Daisy Rock Girl Guitars sponsored Kids Playing For Kids II on May 2. People of all ages gathered at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, Calif., to celebrate the performing arts while fundraising for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County. Ticket prices ranged from $15 to $100, with all proceeds going to Big Brothers Big Sisters. Paris Carney, a Daisy Rock endorser, performed during the nighttime session of the event.
New Sensor/Electro-Harmonix made contributions to World War II veterans in Sartov, Russia. Several employees also visited a hospital in Stalingrad, Russia, and told all the surviving veterans this: “We in America will always remember and appreciate your sacrifices.” Gifts were given to each veteran, as well. The company is planning for a similar trip to Kursk. Electro-Harmonix additionally donated money to the Red Cross and Salvation Army for Haiti victims, as well as a donation to tsunami victims in Sri Lanka.
Carol Calato, president of Calato Manufacturing’s Regal Tip division, was elected chairman of the Lewiston Jazz Festival’s board of directors. The free festival takes place in August near Niagara Falls, N.Y. More than 40 bands perform in five different locations. Curtis Stigers will be the headline performer this year.
Calato succeeds Richard Soluri, Lewiston, N.Y.’s former mayor, as chairman of the not-for-profit foundation.
Yamaha provided a full drum kit for performances and a marching drum to Iraq War veteran Troy Yocum. Yocum is marching 7,000 miles in 16 months in an effort to raise $5 million for veterans. Called Hike For Heroes, Yocum’s hike began on April 17. His dog, Emmie, is a trained hospice dog that works with wounded soldiers. Yocum is making appearances at several baseball games and playing with marching bands. He has been a drummer since 1999, even while in the military.
Yamaha’s charitable arm, Yamaha Cares, also furnished Juan Hernandez with an APX500 acoustic-electric guitar with a case. Hernandez is licensed by the Chicago Transit Authority to play music for subway goers in the “Second City.” Hernandez, who was born with glaucoma, has had his guitar stolen a couple of times, as well as cash and an iPod. He was featured in a Chicago Tribune story, and Yamaha felt so touched that Don Smith, Yamaha’s district manager, delivered the APX500 to Hernandez himself.
Yamaha Cares is also raising funds for charities such as the Susan G. Komen Foundation, American Cancer Society, March of Dimes and Make-A-Wish Foundation.
D’Andrea Inc. has thrown tons of support behind We Care, a foundation that solicits donations and sends pre-packaged items to troops deployed in war zones. D’Andrea President Tony D’Andrea is friends with retired U.S. Army Green Beret Samuel Sanford, who founded the organization. D’Andrea asked Sanford how he could help the foundation. Sanford contacted first sergeants in the field to learn which soldiers play guitars. D’Andrea, along with company CEO Charles Lusso, prepared kits, including straps, strings and picks. The picks are imprinted with American flags, eagles and patriotic images. The first shipment went to Kandahar, Afghanistan. More packages are on their way to troops.
Deering Banjos and Taylor Guitars have teamed up to sponsor a benefit concert for the East Country School District in San Diego. The concert took place on June 11 at Communications Arts Center of Cuyamaca College. Performers included The Kruger Brothers and Doyle Dykes. Tax-deductible tickets were $50 each. The event also hosted a live auction featuring a Taylor guitar, Deering Eagle banjo and 1923 Ford “T” Bucket” roadster. All proceeds benefitted school programs.
The Gretsch Foundation, the Gretsch family’s charitable arm, will donate a Gretsch 7953 White Falcon guitar autographed by Neil Young. To be conducted by Julien’s Auctions, the event will take place on June 25 at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. All auction proceeds will go to MusicCares, a program established in 1989 by the Recording Academy. The charity’s goal is to provide assistance for people in the music industry during times of need.
The D’Addario Music Foundation made several recent donations. These include contributions to the Music Alliance of Ohio, which provides affordable band programs to low-income schools that cannot afford to provide their own. The foundation supported the People’s Music School in Illinois. The school provides free, high-quality instruction to anyone 5 years old or older regarding classical music on the violin, piano, percussion and guitar. The foundation also donated money to the Alabama Blues Project, which offers youth—particularly at-risk children—the chance to learn blues music on the instrument of their choice while being educated about the importance of a blues heritage.
Graph Tech donates regularly to the World Wildlife Fund. As the largest worldwide manufacturer of manmade ivory nuts and saddles, the company champions elephant conservation and preservation. Graph Tech makes a huge effort to save elephants from falling victim to the illegal ivory trade. The Canadian-based company also fosters a female Asian elephant named Jokia in Thailand. “Why choose a product that devastates an endangered animal population when a viable alternative exists?” asked Dave Dunwoodie, president of Graph Tech. “Innovation is how we revolutionize the way we do things and move away from the ‘That’s just how it’s always been done’ mentality. That has always been a priority at Graph Tech.”
For 15 years, Nady Systems has supported Bread & Roses, which provides live music throughout hospitals, homeless shelters, drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, convalescent homes, mental health facilities and other places for the abused, disabled, neglected and impoverished in the San Francisco Bay Area. Bread & Roses was founded 35 years ago by Mimi Farina. John and Toby Nady have hosted several events for the charitable organization. Many other Nady employees have joined the cause by donating time and expertise. Toby Nady also serves on Bread & Roses’ board of directors. Among the artists who have performed to support Bread & Roses are Carlos Santana, Willie Nelson, Etta James, Joan Baez, Herbie Hancock and Bonnie Raitt.
SABIAN donated $2,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The charity has a special meaning to company founder Bob Zildjian. His grandson had his wish granted after he was diagnosed with acute lymphomic leukemia T-cell 10 years ago. Hailey Wilson accepted Sabian’s donation on behalf of the charity. She lives with a condition so rare it was named after her. She and her family visited Sabian’s Canadian factory.
Mogami Cable, a Marshall Electronics division, has teamed up with the Traveling Guitar Foundation in the non-profit organization’s efforts to provide funding and musical instruments to music programs devastated by school budget cuts. The Traveling Guitar Foundation works with manufacturers to donate products students can use in classrooms, as well as unique instruments that can be auctioned off for significant money. Dean Guitars, Seymour Duncan and D’Addario are among others to support the cause, co-founded by recording artist and guitarist Damon Marks. “We want to support young artists and also show them what it’s like to work with really good cable,” said Phil Tennison, product manager at Mogami Cable. “The Traveling Guitar Foundation is an outstanding organization and we hope more manufacturers will become involved.”
For more on the Traveling Guitar Foundation, see next month’s issue of the Music & Sound Retailer.
Sennheiser has established a hotline to help customers and end users affected by the Nashville floods. The company also extended its credit terms to affected individuals and businesses; re-allocated its national inventory to ensure Nashville-based customers get priority access to products; and provided significant product discounts to its Nashville-based network of dealers. The pro-audio manufacturer also dispatched staff to Nashville to Nashville to provide free consulting services to customers and end users.
Something great will take place on Nov. 7, as 15 members of Five-Star Drum Shops will host The Big Beat. Money raised will benefit the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation. During the event, celebrity drummers will make guest appearances and there will be several contests, raffles and giveaways.
The percussion retailers participating in the event, listed alphabetically, are Buffalo Drum Outlet, Colorado Drum & Percussion, Columbus Percussion, Donn Bennett Drum Studio, Drum Headquarters, Drum World, Ellis Drum Shop, Just Drums, Lemmon Percussion, Original Long Island Drum Center, Resurrection Drums, Rhythm Traders, Skins-n-Tins, Stebal Drums and The Percussion Center.
Guitar Center launched “Operation High Ground” for Nashville flood relief. The goal is to help musicians and others involved in the industry rebuild their lives. Guitar Center is partnering with MusiCares and has established a toll-free phone number, 1-877-687-5405 for people who have suffered large losses due to the floods. The retailer also helped to produce a show called “Putting the Music Back in Music City.” The radio show was broadcast nationally and solicited donations from listeners.
Editor’s Note: Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of great things happening today. What was presented reflects information we received only.
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