Little Kids Rock Celebrates Milestone of Reaching Half of a Million Kids Through Annual Benefit Honoring Smokey Robinson, Kenny Loggins

NEW YORK, Sept. 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sam Moore, Tracy Morgan, Tom Papa, Paul Shaffer, Nathan Sykes, and the cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber's smash hit Broadway musical, School of Rock – The Musical are joining the nonprofit organization, Little Kids Rock to honor Smokey Robinson and Kenny Loggins at the 8th Annual Little Kids Rock Benefit, presented by The Hot Topic Foundation. The sold out event, produced by Mark Krantz and Michael Matuza, is set to light up the stage at New York City's Capitale (130 Bowery) on Wednesday, October 5th at 6:30 pm.  Hosted by comedian, Tom Papa, the evening will feature several musical performances led by Musical Director, Will Lee. All proceeds will benefit Little Kids Rock's work of restoring, expanding and innovating music education in economically challenged public schools across the country through teacher trainings, instrument donations, and offering curricula rooted in popular music.

This year, Tracy Morgan, of 30 Rock and SNL fame, will present the "Rocker of the Year" award to Smokey Robinson. The Motown legend shared, "Music is a gift and I believe that every child should have access to it." Mr. Robinson's music has inspired generations of songwriters and music makers, including Little Kids Rock students. He adds, "I'm honored to be able to join Little Kids Rock in furthering its mission."

Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter, Kenny Loggins, is also being honored during the event with the "Humanitarian of the Year" award. Loggins' passion for children's causes has been at the forefront of his career from his contribution to 1985's landmark charity single "We Are the World," to his work with Children's Miracle Network and WhyHunger. "I'm thrilled to be receiving the Humanitarian Award from Little Kids Rock," said Loggins. "Every child should experience the healing power of music. I'm really proud and honored to be a part of the Little Kids Rock family."

The event's performances and festivities will also highlight an astounding musical milestone for Little Kids Rock. The organization is celebrating having enriched the lives of more than 500,000 inner-city public school students through bringing them free instrumental music lessons rooted in the popular music that they know and love. Little Kids Rock provides music teachers with the training, curricula, instruments, and continuing support they need to teach their kids to be lifelong music makers. To coincide with the celebration, the Hot Topic Foundation is challenging Little Kids Rock supporters to help reach the next half million music makers.  All donations received by Little Kids Rock through 12/31/2016 will be matched by The Hot Topic Foundation, dollar-for-dollar, up to $500,000! 

In addition to the performances, unique items and experiences such as the chance to play live on-stage with Robinson and Loggins, will be up for grabs through a live auction at the event! All of the proceeds will help Little Kids Rock bring free lessons and instruments to next half of a million kids.  Last year's benefit – featuring performances from Rocker of the Year Steve Miller, Humanitarian of the Year Graham Nash, Paul Shaffer, Jake Clemons, Pentatonix's Kirstin Maldonado (duetting with kids' a cappella group Sharkapella) and special guest David Letterman — helped raise more than $1 million for underfunded public school music programs. Annually, the event raises enough funds to bring music education and instruments into the lives of tens of thousands of additional public school children who otherwise would not have access due to school budget cuts.

Learn more about the Half A Million Music Makers campaign: www.crowdrise.com/HalfMillionMusicMakers

About Little Kids Rock
Little Kids Rock is a national nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives by restoring, expanding, and innovating music education in our schools. The organization partners with public school districts to train teachers to run its innovative Modern Band curriculum, and donates all the accompanying instruments and resources necessary to teach popular music in a way that empowers students to experience instant achievement. What began as a single after-school guitar class has since exploded into a national movement that brings free, weekly music lessons to over 250,000 public school children through the efforts of more than 1,700 teachers in 124 school districts nationwide. To date, Little Kids Rock has served more than 500,000 students.

About the Hot Topic Foundation
The Hot Topic Foundation is the charitable arm of music and pop culture merch retailer Hot Topic. The Hot Topic Foundation* believes the creative arts enrich lives – so we inspire and encourage young people to express their individuality through music and the arts. Since its founding in 2004, the Hot Topic Foundation has gifted nearly $10 million in grants to non-profit organizations – including Notes for Notes®, Little Kids Rock and the Grammy Foundation – that create music and arts programs for young people across the country, at schools and beyond. Give to the Hot Topic Foundation at all Hot Topic stores and at HTFoundation.org. Follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/HotTopicFoundation.

About Hot Topic
Founded in 1989 in a Southern California guest house, Hot Topic was the first retailer to make alternative apparel and accessories available to individualistic teens at malls across the country. Today, Hot Topic offers music and pop culture junkies exclusive pop culture and band merch, collectibles, and fashion apparel and accessories. Hot Topic operates 659 stores in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico and an online store at hottopic.com. Find Hot Topic on Twitter (twitter.com/hottopic), Facebook (facebook.com/hottopic), YouTube (youtube.com/hottopic) and Instagram (instagram.com/hottopic).

About School of Rock - The Musical
Based on the hit film, School of Rock – The Musical is a hilarious new musical that follows Dewey Finn, a failed, wannabe rock star who decides to earn a few extra bucks by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. There he turns a class of straight-A students into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band. While teaching these pint-sized prodigies what it means to truly rock, Dewey falls for the school's beautiful, but uptight headmistress, helping her rediscover the wild child within. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit: www.schoolofrockthemusical.com

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150917/267577LOGO

SOURCE Little Kids Rock

Related Links

http://www.littlekidsrock.org