Guitar Center Music Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Fender Music Foundation (FMF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that grants musical instruments and equipment to ongoing music education programs in the United States
. Many of the grants
they award go to music education in schools and organizations for under privileged or mentally disabled children, teenagers and adults.
, Inc. The foundation became active in 2006, raising $765,000 and awarding its first grants at the end of that year. By the end of 2007, their grants benefited over 10,000 people in 20 states.
To date the foundation has awarded instruments, equipment and money to 65 organizations. Some of these recipients include schools, educational centers for those who are to be released from prison
, community music centers and therapeutic music programs. By March 2008, grants had been awarded to programs in 24 states. The list of programs the foundation supports is continually growing as they receive numerous grant applications every year.
Unfortunately, the Foundation is also forced to reject many of the applicants each year due to application discrepancies. Discrepancies include incorrectly completed applications, applicant programs that are not within the scope of the foundation's grants, or requests for items that GCMF does not award.
In February 2008 the foundation established a relationship with President
Jimmy Carter
and his organization, the Carter Center. The Music Foundation will be providing musical instruments and memorabilia to the Carter Center auctions in return for publicity
and the Carter Center’s public support of the Guitar Center Music Foundation and the importance of music in people’s lives.
through the foundation's own e-store and marketed through fan sites. Items such as signed posters, guitar
s, songbooks and records
are all sold to raise money for music programs. Artist memorabilia includes artists such as The Eagles, The Black Label Society, Guns N’ Roses, Ozzy Ozbourne, Zakk Wylde
, KISS
, New Found Glory
, Lynyrd Skynyrd
, Hank Williams Jr., John Mayer
, James Blunt
, The Beach boys, Green Day
, Elvis Costello
, Carrie Underwood
, Def Leppard
, Iggy Pop
, Fiona Apple
, Alice In Chains
, Pantera
, Jimi Hendrix
and his sister Janie Hendrix. These names are just a few of the artists who support the foundation with signed memorabilia items.
In early 2008 the foundation began a relationship with Auctionwire.com. This auction-based website
will enable the foundation to auction off higher end memorabilia and meet and greets with celebrities like Don Felder
and Alan White
.
events also play a large role in the Foundation's fundraising
efforts. The Fender Music Foundation has hosted a number of music benefits since its creation in 2005. In March 2006 the Music Foundation hosted “An Evening with Ray Kennedy and Friends.” This event hosted by the foundation featured performances by Macy Gray
, The Dave Mason Band, The Syn
, California Transit Authority, the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Gia Ciambotti and celebrity band 16:9 which includes House
's Hugh Laurie
, Alias
' and Felicity's Greg Grunberg
, Desperate Housewives
James Denton
, The Bachelor's Bob Guiney
and many special guests. The event also included a silent auction featuring signed and rare memorabilia with all of the proceeds, including ticket sales, going toward music education programs.
FMF has also hosted events with master guitarist Pepe Romero
and the New West Symphony
.
FMF’s most recent event was a benefit entitled “The Gift of Music.” This event featured celebrity guests, an art exhibit by Paul Thatcher, music from Koffehouse recording artists, a silent auction featuring memorabilia including a Jimi Hendrix
gift basked donated by Janie Hendrix. Celebrity guests included contestants John Boone and winner Maria Hartman from VH1
’s The Shot
, protégé drummer
Tony Royster, and drummer Danny Seraphine
from the band Chicago
. All proceeds from this event were used to benefit music programs across the country.
was started by U2
’s The Edge
in partnership with The Guitar Center Music Foundation and Gibson Guitars in order to raise funds to replace the lost instruments and accessories of the musicians affected by the hurricanes that devastated the Gulf Coast region in 2005. Exclusive guitars manufactured by Gibson were available exclusively through the Guitar Center Website with all proceeds going towards the goals of Music Rising.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Many of the grants
Grant (money)
Grants are funds disbursed by one party , often a Government Department, Corporation, Foundation or Trust, to a recipient, often a nonprofit entity, educational institution, business or an individual. In order to receive a grant, some form of "Grant Writing" often referred to as either a proposal...
they award go to music education in schools and organizations for under privileged or mentally disabled children, teenagers and adults.
History
The Fender Music Foundation, formerly The Guitar Center Music Foundation, was established in 2005 in Westlake Village, California by Larry Thomas when he retired as CEO of Guitar CenterGuitar Center
Guitar Center is the largest chain of musical instrument retailers in the world with 223 locations throughout the United States. Its headquarters is in Westlake Village, California....
, Inc. The foundation became active in 2006, raising $765,000 and awarding its first grants at the end of that year. By the end of 2007, their grants benefited over 10,000 people in 20 states.
To date the foundation has awarded instruments, equipment and money to 65 organizations. Some of these recipients include schools, educational centers for those who are to be released from prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
, community music centers and therapeutic music programs. By March 2008, grants had been awarded to programs in 24 states. The list of programs the foundation supports is continually growing as they receive numerous grant applications every year.
Unfortunately, the Foundation is also forced to reject many of the applicants each year due to application discrepancies. Discrepancies include incorrectly completed applications, applicant programs that are not within the scope of the foundation's grants, or requests for items that GCMF does not award.
In February 2008 the foundation established a relationship with President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
and his organization, the Carter Center. The Music Foundation will be providing musical instruments and memorabilia to the Carter Center auctions in return for publicity
Publicity
Publicity is the deliberate attempt to manage the public's perception of a subject. The subjects of publicity include people , goods and services, organizations of all kinds, and works of art or entertainment.From a marketing perspective, publicity is one component of promotion which is one...
and the Carter Center’s public support of the Guitar Center Music Foundation and the importance of music in people’s lives.
Memorabillia
The Fender Music Foundation relies solely on charitable donations from the public and funds raised through the selling of music memorabilia. Memorabilia sales are made onlineONLINE
ONLINE is a magazine for information systems first published in 1977. The publisher Online, Inc. was founded the year before. In May 2002, Information Today, Inc. acquired the assets of Online Inc....
through the foundation's own e-store and marketed through fan sites. Items such as signed posters, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, songbooks and records
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
are all sold to raise money for music programs. Artist memorabilia includes artists such as The Eagles, The Black Label Society, Guns N’ Roses, Ozzy Ozbourne, Zakk Wylde
Zakk Wylde
Zachary Phillip Wylde , best known by the stage name Zakk Wylde, is an American musician, songwriter, and occasional actor who is best known as the former guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and founder of the heavy metal band Black Label Society. He was the lead guitarist and vocalist in Pride & Glory,...
, KISS
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
, New Found Glory
New Found Glory
New Found Glory is an American rock band from Coral Springs, Florida. Formed in the summer of 1997, founding members were lead vocalist Jordan Pundik, guitarists Chad Gilbert and Steve Klein, bassist Ian Grushka and drummer Joe Marino...
, Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
, Hank Williams Jr., John Mayer
John Mayer
John Clayton Mayer is an American pop rock and blues rock musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist, and music producer. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He moved to Atlanta in 1997, where he refined his...
, James Blunt
James Blunt
James Hillier Blount , better known by his stage name James Blunt, is an English singer-songwriter and musician, and former army officer, whose debut album, Back to Bedlam and single releases, including "You're Beautiful" and "Goodbye My Lover", brought him to fame in 2005...
, The Beach boys, Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
, Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
, Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood
Carrie Marie Underwood is an American country singer-songwriter and actress who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, in 2005...
, Def Leppard
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
, Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
, Fiona Apple
Fiona Apple
Fiona Apple McAfee Maggart is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. Apple met international acclaim for her 1996 debut album, Tidal, which was a critical and commercial success...
, Alice In Chains
Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...
, Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
, Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
and his sister Janie Hendrix. These names are just a few of the artists who support the foundation with signed memorabilia items.
In early 2008 the foundation began a relationship with Auctionwire.com. This auction-based website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
will enable the foundation to auction off higher end memorabilia and meet and greets with celebrities like Don Felder
Don Felder
Donald William "Don" Felder is an American musician and songwriter, best known for his work as lead guitarist for the Eagles from 1974 to 1980 and again from 1994 to 2001.-Early life and influences:...
and Alan White
Alan White
Alan White may refer to:*Alan White , English footballer*Alan White , English novelist, author of The Long Day's Dying*Alan White , English drummer in rock group Oasis...
.
Benefit events
CharityCharity (practice)
The practice of charity means the voluntary giving of help to those in need who are not related to the giver.- Etymology :The word "charity" entered the English language through the Old French word "charité" which was derived from the Latin "caritas".Originally in Latin the word caritas meant...
events also play a large role in the Foundation's fundraising
Fundraising
Fundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies...
efforts. The Fender Music Foundation has hosted a number of music benefits since its creation in 2005. In March 2006 the Music Foundation hosted “An Evening with Ray Kennedy and Friends.” This event hosted by the foundation featured performances by Macy Gray
Macy Gray
Macy Gray is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress, famed for her distinctive raspy voice, and a singing style heavily influenced by Billie Holiday and Betty Davis.Gray has released five studio albums, with her fifth studio album, The Sellout,...
, The Dave Mason Band, The Syn
The Syn
The Syn are an English band that were active from 1965 to 1967, and then reunited as a progressive rock band in 2004. Chris Welch, in his book, Close to the Edge: The Story of Yes wrote, "The Syn were very similar to Yes in fact...
, California Transit Authority, the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Gia Ciambotti and celebrity band 16:9 which includes House
House (TV series)
House is an American television medical drama that debuted on the Fox network on November 16, 2004. The show's central character is Dr. Gregory House , an unconventional and misanthropic medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in...
's Hugh Laurie
Hugh Laurie
James Hugh Calum Laurie, OBE , better known as Hugh Laurie , is an English actor, voice artist, comedian, writer, musician, recording artist, and director...
, Alias
Alias (TV series)
Alias is an American action television series created by J. J. Abrams which was broadcast on ABC for five seasons, from September 30, 2001 to May 22, 2006...
' and Felicity's Greg Grunberg
Greg Grunberg
Gregory Phillip "Greg" Grunberg is an American television actor. He is best known from starring as Matt Parkman on the NBC television series Heroes. Other notable roles included the characters Sean Blumberg on Felicity and Eric Weiss on Alias , both created and produced by childhood friend J. J...
, Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. Executive producer Cherry serves as Showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season include Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, George W...
James Denton
James Denton (actor)
James "Jamie" Thomas Denton, Jr. is an American film and television actor, best known for playing Mike Delfino in the television series Desperate Housewives.-Early life:...
, The Bachelor's Bob Guiney
Bob Guiney
Robert "Bob" Guiney was a contestant on the first season of The Bachelorette and later, appeared as the bachelor in the fourth season of The Bachelor. He has hosted GSN Live from 2009 until the show's ending in 2011....
and many special guests. The event also included a silent auction featuring signed and rare memorabilia with all of the proceeds, including ticket sales, going toward music education programs.
FMF has also hosted events with master guitarist Pepe Romero
Pepé Romero
Pepe Romero is a world-renowned classical and flamenco guitarist. He is particularly famous for his outstanding technique and colorful musical interpretations on the instrument....
and the New West Symphony
New West Symphony
The New West Symphony is one of several regional professional symphony orchestras in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. It was founded in 1995 to succeed two orchestras that ceased operations...
.
FMF’s most recent event was a benefit entitled “The Gift of Music.” This event featured celebrity guests, an art exhibit by Paul Thatcher, music from Koffehouse recording artists, a silent auction featuring memorabilia including a Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
gift basked donated by Janie Hendrix. Celebrity guests included contestants John Boone and winner Maria Hartman from VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
’s The Shot
The Shot (TV series)
The Shot was a reality television show produced by VH1 in 2007. The Shot included 10 aspiring fashion photographers working through a series of games in order to win the competition. Russell James was the host/mentor....
, protégé drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Tony Royster, and drummer Danny Seraphine
Danny Seraphine
Daniel Peter "Danny" Seraphine is an American drummer, record producer, theatrical producer and film producer, best known for being the original drummer and founding member of the rock group Chicago, a tenure which lasted from February 1967 to May 1990.-Early life:Danny Seraphine was born in...
from the band Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. All proceeds from this event were used to benefit music programs across the country.
Music Rising
Music RisingMusic Rising
Music Rising is a charity co-founded by Producer Bob Ezrin, U2's The Edge and Gibson Guitar CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. Launched in November 2005 in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the foundation aims to help in the purchasing of new instruments for the musicians of New Orleans affected by the disaster.-...
was started by U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
’s The Edge
The Edge
David Howell Evans , more widely known by his stage name The Edge , is a musician best known as the guitarist, backing vocalist, and keyboardist of the Irish rock band U2. A member of the group since its inception, he has recorded 12 studio albums with the band and has released one solo record...
in partnership with The Guitar Center Music Foundation and Gibson Guitars in order to raise funds to replace the lost instruments and accessories of the musicians affected by the hurricanes that devastated the Gulf Coast region in 2005. Exclusive guitars manufactured by Gibson were available exclusively through the Guitar Center Website with all proceeds going towards the goals of Music Rising.
Mission
From fendermusicfoundation.org.The Fender Music Foundation believes that music participation is an essential element in the fabric of an enduring society. Our mission is to have the benefits of making music available to everyone in the communities in which we serve, to promote its importance through education and media initiatives, and to provide financial and in-kind resources in collaboration with other organizations to achieve our common goal.
Board Of Directors
- Larry E Thomas, Chairman
- Gina Atton-Thomas
- Don FelderDon FelderDonald William "Don" Felder is an American musician and songwriter, best known for his work as lead guitarist for the Eagles from 1974 to 1980 and again from 1994 to 2001.-Early life and influences:...
, Artist, Formerly of The Eagles - Cathy Genzler, Founder, Music for Suzy
- JoAnn Kepler, Music industry specialist
- Allen Kepler, President, Broadcast Architecture
- Robert M. KnightRobert M. KnightRobert M. Knight has been photographing rock stars for 40 years. One of the first professional photographers to shoot Jimi Hendrix and the last to photograph , Knight has been in the business since 1968, and has quietly created a sprawling archive of classic rock n' roll stills, including the...
, Photographer - Don Lombardi, Founder, Drum WorkshopDrum WorkshopDrum Workshop is a drum and hardware manufacturing company based in Oxnard, California. Their slogan is "The Drummer's Choice".-History:...
- Tim Pohlman, President/CEO, Riviera Broadcast Group
- Gadget, GC Pro, Guitar Center, Inc.
- Dave Weiderman, Director, Artist Relation, Guitar Center, Inc.
- Daniel Smith, Counsel for Guitar Center, Inc.
- Rich Winer, President and CEO, Winer Wealth
- Janie Hendrix, President and CEO, Experience Hendrix, LLC
- Jeremy Koff, Founder of Koffeehouse
- Danny Seraphine, Former drummer for the band Chicago, currently with CTA