Nonprofit Will Get $10,000 With A Bit Of Help From Community

BRANDON, FL – A nonprofit dedicated to giving disadvantaged children the gift of music has received a $5,000 donation from a national insurance provider.

And that money could be doubled with help from the community.

Since 2009, Instruments of Change has provided musical instruments and instruction to children attending local low-income, Title 1 elementary schools. Music teachers, music lovers and musicians volunteer their time teaching students to use instruments that have been donated by the community and refurbished by Instruments of Change volunteers.

For the nonprofit that depends entirely on donations, $5,000 will go a long way. But that amount could be doubled if the community clicks on the article about Instruments of Change on the official Safeco Insurance Facebook page.

If the story receives at least 200 likes, comments or shares on the Safeco Insurance Facebook page, the total donation will increase to $10,000.

To “like” the article, click here.

“We are excited to share the inspiring stories of our agents with their communities through social media while raising funds for these outstanding nonprofit organizations,” said Robyn Hawking, Safeco InsuranceSoutheast Region Territory manager, which is providing the donation through its Safeco Insurance Make More Happen Award. “The Make More Happen Awards program helps to recognize the amazing work agents do in areas like the Tampa Bay region and hopefully motivate others to do the same.”

Tampa family insurance agency, Insurance and Trust, applied for the Safeco award.

Insurance and Trust Vice President Jeff Chernoff said he joined Instruments of Change’s board of directors shortly after learning about the nonprofit.

“I grew up in a very musical household,” said Chernoff. “I took violin and guitar lessons as a kid, and even now I use music every day to impact my mood.”

Glen Schubert knows the difference music can make as well. That’s why he and his wife, Kelly, founded the nonprofit.

“Music helped connect me to so many things in school and even later in life,” he said. “When I started to see articles about music being cut from schools due to budget concerns, I wanted to find a way to provide this experience to those who couldn’t afford it.”

It’s an intensive program. According to Chernoff, Instruments of Change makes a long-term investment in each participant that lasts from elementary school until they reach college.

At first, students sign a contract and commit to instruction two days per week after school, maintaining their instrument, showing proficiency, keeping practice logs and attending up to five performance opportunities.

Then they earn a new instrument for middle school—but only after they enroll in band and are vetted by the band director.

Schubert said learning to play an instrument has a far-reaching impact on a child.

Studies show that students who learn to play an instrument score better on tests, have higher graduation rates and are less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol.

For some of these students, Schubert said, music becomes their motivation for staying in school.

“We’ve had parents come to us in tears, telling us their child is so connected to band that they want to go to school, and that their grades are better because they don’t dread going.”

In 2018, more than 100 students graduated from the program, and more than 200 at six schools are expected to enroll at the elementary level during the 2018-19 academic year.

Elected to president of the nonprofit board in January, Chernoff frequently hosts student events, coordinates fundraising campaigns, attends concerts and other events with students and raises awareness of the nonprofit’s mission in the business community.

He said he was thrilled when Safeco Insurance chose Instruments of Change as an award recipient because the donation will allow the board to expand its reach to more schools.

“The donation will help put up to 20 students on the right track for years to come,” Chernoff said. “This is a program that pays benefits to the community for a lifetime. It goes way beyond the initial effort.

“My team and I have been involved with Instruments of Change for over four years and we are incredibly grateful to be awarded the Safeco Insurance Make More Happen Award so we can give back even more,” he said. “Instruments of Change continues to have a lasting impact on our community by changing the lives of these children one note at a time.”

Safeco will select a total of 24 independent agents for awards in 2018 and donate up to $240,000 to the nonprofits they support.

Images via Instruments of Change

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