VH1 "Save the Music" Expands Campaign To Restore Music Education in 43 U.S. Cities.

VH1 "Save the Music" is expanding its 2001 campaign to restore public school music education programs for children in 43 United States cities (up from 40 last year). The VH1 Save the Music Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of education in America's public schools by restoring music programs in cities across the U.S., and by raising awareness about the importance of music participation for the nation's youth.

In each city, VH1 Save the Music will work closely together at the community level with local VH1 cable affiliates, school officials, local government, and sponsors to organize advocacy efforts, conduct awareness campaigns, run comprehensive musical instrument drives, and other activities with the goal of helping restore instrumental music programs in that city's schools and increasing access to music education for students.

"It's a fact that kids involved in music programs have improved reading abilities, higher self-esteem, score higher on standardized tests, and are more likely to stay in school and go to college," said Bob Morrison, Executive Director, VH1 Save the Music Foundation. "With the help of our committed partners in these cities, VH1 Save the Music can provide much-needed support directly at the community level, so that every child will be able to receive the benefits of an education that includes music."

New cities being served by the VH1 Save the Music campaign in 2001 include Atlantic City, NJ; Birmingham, AL; Columbia, SC; Charleston, WV; Dayton, OH; Louisville, KY; Oklahoma City, OK; Portland> OR; Rochester, NY; Sacramento, CA; Salt Lake City, UT; San Francisco, CA; Tampa, FL; and Tulsa, OK. This year's campaign will also return to Albany, NY; Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Boston, MA; Buffalo, NY; Chicago, IL; Cincinnati, OH; Cleveland, OH; Denver, CO; Detroit, MI; Greenville, SC; Hartford, CT; Houston, TX; Indianapolis, IN; Los Angeles, CA; Memphis, TN; Milwaukee, WI; Nashville, TN; New Orleans, LA; New York City, NY; Newark, NJ; Philadelphia, PA; Providence, RI; San Antonio, TX; Seattle, WA; and Washington, DC.

Through partnerships with affiliates and advocates, as well as corporate and national sponsors, VH1 Save the Music conducts awareness campaigns, musical instrument drives, and fundraising events in conjunction with public schools to restore instrumental music programs. Since VH1 Save the Music was created in 1997, more than $10 million worth of musical instruments have been donated to 530 public schools in cities across the U.S., improving the lives of more than 200,000 children. The Foundation's 10-year plan is to bring music participation to one million children in public schools.

Last year, VH1 Save the Music was honored with the Governors' Award (a special Emmy Award) from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, as well as the George Foster Peabody Award for broadcast and cable excellence. It also won two Beacon Awards, presented by the Cable Television Public Affairs Association to honor excellence in public affairs throughout the cable industry. Most recently, VH1 Save the Music received the 2001 Government Leadership in the Arts Award, a special recognition award for excellence in arts programs for youth, from Americans for the Arts and the United States Conference of Mayors.