February 24, 2023 I Philanthropy
Guitar Center Music Foundation Expands Efforts
Individuals involved in a GCMF ceremony at Marrero Middle School in New Orleans on September 30, 2022, which included presenting the school’s music program with instruments to replace those destroyed, damaged or lost due to Hurricane Ida.
The Guitar Center Music Foundation (GCMF), the nonprofit arm of Guitar Center, has announced that it has continued to grow and expand the scope of its philanthropic efforts, wrapping a successful 2022, which saw support for more than 200 schools or community music programs in 41 states.
To continue the momentum into 2023, GCMF announced the GCMF fundraiser concert, which will be held March 30 at The Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, California. Tickets will go on sale March 1. During the fundraising event, GCMF will be presenting a Lifetime Achievement Award to Grammy-award winner Pete Escovedo. Escovedo and other members of the Escovedo family will also perform at the event, along with several other guests. John “JR” Robinson will serve as musical director for the evening. Aside from live music, the evening will include an open buffet and live and silent auctions. Looking forward, plans are underway to make the fundraiser concert a yearly event in 2024 and beyond, giving GCMF an opportunity to foster strengthened connections with musicians and the wider public.
GCMF also announced The Playing for Change Foundation (PFCF) as one key grantee for the first half of 2023. GCMF has partnered with PFCF to provide instruments for a new music school in Quibdo, Colombia, along with non-profit Fundación Pies Descalzos. The school will open in March, and GCMF is providing several dozen instruments and other music gear to help launch the program.
Additionally, GCMF has pledged an ongoing monthly commitment to Challenge America. GCMF will be providing 10 veterans each month with guitars for their workshops and music therapy.
Looking back at 2022, GCMF said it serviced some 86 schools, which is up from 59 in 2021 and 17 in 2020. Overall in 2022, 200 music programs were provided with aid, which includes schools, community centers, music therapy programs and more. The Foundation raised nearly $700,000 in new funds — 100% of which was put back into communities. GCMF also partnered with Guitar Center on the “Round Up” program at Guitar Center stores and online, which allows customers to round up their purchases to the nearest dollar as a donation to GCMF. The “Round Up” program is evolving in 2023, with a number of corporate partners and individual sponsors pledging dollar-for-dollar matches for funds generated from the program.
“Our overarching goal is to provide those in need with instruments and to advocate for the benefits of music education and music therapy, and we continued to accomplish that goal in 2022,” said Myka Miller, The Guitar Center Music Foundation executive director. “But our yearly goal is growth in those endeavors, and in that regard, 2022 was a banner year, and 2023 is looking to be even bigger. We thank everyone who supports our efforts, and we look forward to great things to come.”
