Music Empowers Foundation Grant To Berklee City Music Will Fund "YOUTHBeat" Research Study

NEW YORK, May 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Music Empowers Foundation announced today the presentation of a $75,000 check to Berklee College of Music's Berklee City Music Program.  The payment represents the second half of a two-year $150,000 grant to Boston-based City Music.  The grant was first announced in April 2011 as part of a joint initiative between Music Empowers Foundation and Berklee City Music to raise awareness of the importance and need for music education. 

According to Music Empowers, grant funds are being used to fund the expansion of the YOUTHBeat Research and Evaluation Project, which is being conducted by Tufts University. The study is measuring the impact of participation in Berklee City Music on youth academic achievement, music accomplishment, resiliency, leadership, and social skills.  The initial phases of the study were limited to students participating in the Boston City Music program. 

"The grant provided by Music Empowers has allowed Tufts and Berklee City Music to expand greatly the scope of the research which now will include participating youths, ages 9-18, in up to nine City Music Network sites across the country," explained Andy Davis, founder of the Music Empowers Foundation.

Full results of the YOUTHBeat Research Study will not be available for at least a year.  Nevertheless in a statement from J. Curtis Warner, Jr., Executive Director of Berklee City Music, the Program expressed not only its gratitude to Music Empowers Foundation, but also its excitement about what the results might reveal. 

According to Mr. Warner, "Music Empowers, under the leadership of Andy Davis, is far more than a philanthropic benefactor.  Their continued support of not only our direct services to youth in the way of scholarships, but also research that will provide both data and direction for our more that 30 City Music Network sites around the country, has the potential to change the way we deliver music education and youth development as a nation."

For more information contact: Andrew Davis, [email protected]

ABOUT MUSIC EMPOWERS

Music Empowers Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit that provides financial support to nonprofits that offer music education programs to communities with limited or nonexistent programs.  Since its inception in early 2010, it has awarded nearly half a million dollars in grants to organizations such as The Dr. Phil Foundation, Little Kids Rock, Berklee City Music, Artists Corps of America, The Quincy Jones Musiq Consortium, and DonorsChoose.org.  For more information on Music Empowers please go to www.musicempowersfoundation.org, become a fan on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

ABOUT BERKLEE CITY MUSIC

Berklee City Music is a nonprofit program offered by Berklee College of Music that provides music education to 4th to 12th graders in under-served communities.  With year-round instruction, expert faculty, individualized mentoring, and a comprehensive curriculum, Berklee City Music combines the breadth of Berklee resources, facilities and available scholarships with an environment of attention and encouragement.  Kids get the tools and support they need to flourish as students, musicians, and – perhaps most important – confident and well-rounded individuals ready to shape their world.

SOURCE Music Empowers Foundation