VH1 Save the Music

VANITY FAIR NOMINATES

HALL OF FAME

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BECAUSE, after VHI president John Sykes visited P.S. 58 in the Bronx five years ago as part of the Principal for a Day program and saw children playing instruments held together with gaffer’s tape, he started VHI Save the Music—a nonprofit foundation to help bring music education back to public schools, BECAUSE cutbacks initiated by the Reagan administration diminished arts programs to such a degree that many public schools had absolutely no music programs at all. BECAUSE, since it was created in 1997, VH 1 Save the Music has put more than $17 million worth of musical instruments in 750 public schools in 43 U.S. cities, benefiting more than 250,000 children. BECAUSE VHI, with its powerful video playlist, has the clout to enlist the support of major stars such as Babyface, Sheryl Crow, Lou Reed, Mariah Carey, Billy Joel, and John Mellencamp, who visit schools and talk to students, BECAUSE VHI Save the Music joins with school boards and cable affiliates to run instrument drives and air public-service announcements. (Those who want to donate that old violin or clarinet can call 1-888-841-4687 or log on to VHl.com.) BECAUSE, with fundraisers such as Divas Live, VH 1 Save the Music finances school orchestras to the tune of $25,000 to $50,000, and before any program is put into place, a qualified music teacher must be hired by the school, BECAUSE VHI Save the Music teaches kids to score symphonies, not drugs, and, says Sykes, “research has shown that children who participate in music programs do better in math, have higher test scores, and their self-esteem goes through the roof.” BECAUSE, with a goal of raising $100 million by 2007 to benefit more than one million students, VHI Save the Music goes not just behind the music but to the head of the class.

LISA ROBINSON