Dr. Phil Foundation to Launch 'Little Kids Rock Across America' Creating Transformational Music Programs in Classrooms Nationwide

Dr. Phil Foundation to Launch 'Little Kids Rock Across America' Creating Transformational Music Programs in Classrooms Nationwide

MIKE EINZIGER (INCUBUS), ZACHARY MERRICK (ALL TIME LOW) AND CHAD SMITH (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS) JOIN MCGRAW FAMILY TO ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP WITH "LITTLE KIDS ROCK," WHICH WILL BRING MUSIC EDUCATION AND INSTRUMENTS TO SCHOOL KIDS IN TEN MAJOR CITIES

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dr. Phil Foundation today launches Little Kids Rock Across America with a $500,000 donation designed to restore, revitalize and enhance musical programs in schools in 10 cities across the country. The program brings music education to schoolchildren from grades K through 12 in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, Atlanta, Washington D.C., Tampa, and two additional cities to be named by the end of 2009. The announcement was made by the Dr. Phil Foundation and its partner Little Kids Rock during today's taping of DR. PHIL. This episode is scheduled for broadcast Thursday, December 10 (check local listings).

Joining Dr. Phil McGraw at the taping today were some of rock's top musicians in Mike Einziger (Incubus), Zachary Merrick (All Time Low) and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers). Jordan McGraw, musician, composer and youngest son of Dr. Phil and Robin McGraw, also performed with a group of schoolchildren who are part of Little Kids Rock. The Foundation is a McGraw family mission, and Jordan, who has written theme music for DR. PHIL, will act as the Foundation's ambassador to Little Kids Rock Across America.

"Little Kids Rock approached the Dr. Phil Foundation in search of a meaningful way to put music into the lives of children who need it. With the help of this great organization, the Foundation has created a program designed to expand what they have been doing so effectively, one guitar, one school district and one volunteer teacher at a time," Dr. Phil McGraw stated. "I'm passionate about music, and I have often said that when kids reach a certain age, they need to belong to something. I would much rather they choose a band or a choir than a gang. I am so proud that with this Foundation program Little Kids Rock Across America, we will be able to give kids a real opportunity, and the right outlet for their passion - and the gangs won't win by default." Dr. Phil added: "David Wish had a dream, and he made it real. I am proud that with his help, Little Kids Rock Across America will be teaching kids and their mentors what the power of music can really do to change who they are."

"Dr. Phil's passion and vision dovetails perfectly with our history of bringing music to children," David Wish, CEO and founder of Little Kids Rock, said. "This is an extraordinary opportunity to partner and make a real difference in the lives of thousands of kids. With the creation of Little Kids Rock Across America, we will be training more teacher volunteers and reaching more kids in more classrooms who would never have had opportunity to play music in an economy where arts programs are evaporating."

A CD featuring some of the schoolchildren's original compositions was distributed to the press and is available on the Little Kids Rock website (www.littlekidsrock.org). In addition, Fender, the world's leading guitar manufacturer is a major corporate sponsor of Little Kids Rock and has donated generously to the program.

About The Dr. Phil Foundation

The DPF, founded in 2003, is a nonprofit charitable organization committed to supporting organizations and programs that address the emotional, physical, mental and spiritual needs of children and families. For more information, go to www.drphilfoundation.org.

About Little Kids Rock

Little Kids Rock is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization that transforms children's lives by restoring and revitalizing music education in underfunded public schools. Little Kids Rock was founded in San Francisco in 2002 by David Wish, an elementary school teacher who had grown frustrated with the lack of music education funding at his school. Today, Little Kids Rock is one of the leading nonprofit providers of free lessons and instruments to underserved children in US public schools, and has served more than 85,000 students at over 1,100 schools in 23 cities nationwide. Little Kids Rock Honorary Board Members include Bonnie Raitt, Slash, Paul Simon, B.B. King, Ziggy Marley and other famous friends in the music industry. More information can be found at: www.littlekidsrock.org.

Source: Dr. Phil Foundation

CONTACT: Theresa Corigliano, VP, Media Relations, +1-323-956-3357,
Theresa.Corigliano@cbsparamount.com, or Louis DiCenzo, Director, Media
Relations, +1-323-956-3405, Louis.DiCenzo@cbsparamount.com, all of DR. PHIL

Web Site: http://www.drphilfoundation.org/

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