VH1 Save the Music Celebrates 'Music In Our Schools Month' This March With Series of High-Profile Events and in School Demonstrations

VH1 Save the Music Celebrates 'Music In Our Schools Month' This March With Series of High-Profile Events and in School Demonstrations

NEW YORK, March 5 /PRNewswire/ -- On the heels of its recent 10th Anniversary celebration, The VH1 Save The Music Foundation kicks-off a new decade with the help of artists including the legendary Rolling Stones, Lenny Kravitz, Natasha Bedingfield and more to help put musical instruments in the hands of thousands of public school students throughout the country.

Throughout the month of March and continuing through the Spring, The Foundation will partner with Houlihan's restaurants and Bakers shoes with high-profile events and initiatives to raise awareness and funds for music education.

ROCK OUT WITH THE ROLLING STONES

The VH1 Save The Music Foundation is rocking out with the Rolling Stones this March! In partnership with the new Martin Scorsese film "Shine A Light" online users were given the chance to bid on the ultimate Stones fan package. The winner including a VIP trip for two to New York City to attend the official movie press conference and ask a question to the Rolling Stones, walk the red carpet and attend the premiere of Martin Scorsese's "Shine A Light" movie on March 30. In addition, the winner and a guest will also get the chance t0 meet the Rolling Stones on the red carpet and receive a Gibson ES 335 signed by the band. The online auction raised more than $25,000 for music education.

SAVE ROOM FOR DESSERT AND SAVE THE MUSIC

Buy a Houlihan's desert and help save music education! Houlihan's restaurants are partnering with the VH1 Save The Music Foundation to support instrumental music education programs in public schools. Beginning February 20 through March 29, Houlihan's will donate all net proceeds from sales of the restaurant's signature 'mini dessert' menu to the VH1 Save The Music Foundation.

THIRD ANNUAL BIG SHOPPING DAY PRESENTED BY BAKERS

Christina Applegate, Daisy Fuentes, Neil Patrick Harris, Benji Madden, Joel Madden, Allison Sweeney, Michael Urie, & Chris Webber will join Tim Gunn, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Lenny Kravitz, Mya, Sara Ramirez, Kelly Rowland, Raven Symone', Pete Wentz, Vanessa Williams, Venus Williams and Natasha Bedingfield as hosts of the VH1 Save The Music Foundation's Third Annual BIG Shopping Day Presented By Bakers in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 26 from 10:00AM through 4:00 PM. Guests are invited to shop till they drop and enjoy complimentary refreshments from Snow Queen Vodka, HOPE Wine and FIJI Water, hors d'oeuvres, family activities, live performances and receive a VH1 BIG Shopping '08 gift bag. For tickets visit www.vh1savethemusic.com, e-mail rsvp@vh1.com or call 212-654-4612.

In addition to these high-profile events, VH1 Save The Music Foundation grant recipient schools in Indianapolis, Houston, and Philadelphia will hold in-school concerts to allow school officials and community members to see first-hand the positive impact music has on their students. In partnership with local cable affiliates including Bright House Networks, Time Warner Cable and Comcast Cable Communications, the events will include student concerts and special artist performances.

Since 1997, the VH1 Save The Music Foundation has provided more than $40 million worth of new musical instruments to over 1,500 schools in 100 communities, affecting the lives of more than 1 million public school children.

March has officially been designated by MENC: The National Association for Music Education for the observance of Music In Our Schools Month (MIOSM(R)), the time of year when music education becomes the focus of schools across the nation. MIOSM began as a single statewide celebration in 1973, and has grown over the decades to encompass a day, then a week, and then in 1985 to become a month long celebration of music in our schools.

Now in its tenth year, the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning VH1 Save The Music Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of education in America's public schools by restoring music education programs in cities across the U.S. and raising awareness of the importance of music participation for our nation's youth. VH1 Save The Music's many honors include the Governors' Award (a special Emmy Award), the George Foster Peabody Award for broadcast and cable excellence, and many Beacon Awards.

The VH1 Save The Music Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring instrumental music education programs in America's public schools, and raising awareness about the importance of music as part of each child's complete education. Now a decade strong, it is our renewed commitment to donate one hundred million dollars worth of new musical instruments to ensure that eve a greater number of students receive a comprehensive music education over the next 10 years.

The national partner organizations of VH1 Save The Music include the American Association of School Administrators, the American Music Conference, America's Promise-The Alliance for Youth, ASCAP Foundation,

Chief State School Officers Association, MENC-The National Association for Music Education, NAMM-International Music Products Association, National School Boards Association and the U.S. Department of Education.

VH1 Save The Music Foundations 2008 Platinum sponsors: jetBlue Airways and LG Mobile Phones. 2008 Gold sponsors: Bakers and got2b. 2008 Silver sponsors: john varvatos, Listerene Whitening, Houlihan's Restaurants Inc., Star 98.7, Suzuki. 2008 Patron sponsors: Grey Goose Vodka, Verizon Wireless, Warner Bros. Pictures. 2008 Supporting sponsors: Snow Queen Vodka. For more information on the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, please visit http://www.vh1.com/partners/save_the_music.

Contacts: Maura Wozniak/VH1 Elizabeth Rosenthal/Susan Blond PR

212-846-7325 212-333-7728

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: VH1

CONTACT: Maura Wozniak of VH1, +1-212-846-7325; or Elizabeth Rosenthal
of Susan Blond PR, +1-212-333-7728

Web site:

http://www.vh1.com/
http://www.vh1.com/partners/save_the_music
http://www.vh1savethemusic.com/

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