What If?

What if Every Child Had a Musical Instrument? By Jessica Erskine

Children and young adults shouldn’t why we’re amplifying the have to share instruments. They message about the need shouldn’t have to sacrifice necessary for music education. after-school practice because they By collaborating with don’t have an instrument of their own. MHOF and participating Music programs shouldn’t have to artists, we’re making a selects markets that have turn away eager students because lot of noise. meaning for the company — of a lack of inventory. Our 2014 Next whether it’s San Francisco, But they do. Stage Concert Series, Learning an site of our headquarters, or That’s why StubHub’s Next Stage combined with a instrument Austin, Texas, where we put Social Good Music Program partnered StubHub Foundation also builds on a big event during the with nonprofit Mr. Holland’s Opus grant, raised $600,000, confdence, South by Southwest festival. Foundation (MHOF) to help keep which MHOF used to and playing StubHub then considers these music in schools alive. In partnership purchase instruments with a group markets along with MHOF’s with MHOF, which donates musical for 16 U.S. schools. In recommendations to come up instruments to underfunded music 2015, we cranked up the helps foster with its final selections. programs, StubHub has put instruments volume with the Next social and From there, MHOF sends in the hands of thousands of students Stage Social Good Music team-building out a call for applications. across the United States. Program. We succeeded skills. Schools provide information Funding for the program comes in providing more than about the students, the music from the StubHub Foundation, a $1 million in musical program, graduation rates, Silicon Valley Community Foundation instruments to schools in 11 U.S. cities, how long students stay in the program, corporate advised fund. The StubHub including Oakland. and the program’s components. Foundation has allocated nearly $4 At each stop during the program, MHOF also assesses whether the million in charitable giving to music, we organized a private musical party. program has the stability to continue sports and the performing arts since Musicians such as Portugal. The for many years. As a result of these 2012. As the world’s largest ticket Man, X Ambassadors, Bebe Rexha, detailed assessments, StubHub helps marketplace, StubHub collaborates Michael Ray, and The Family Crest place instruments where they can do with these industries daily, and aims to gave performances. For the encore, we the most good. give back to them on a grass-roots level. surprised students with dozens of new In 2016, we plan to take our music MHOF shares StubHub’s belief in instruments. Through these events, education message to an even broader the life-changing power of music. Both the music students see that they have audience. We’ll make as much noise recognize that music not only gives support to pursue their dreams, and the as we can to show our fans how they students an outlet for creativity, but rest of the students and faculty realize can impact music education. We also develops language and reasoning, how much music means to the people have a major milestone planned that improves memory and coordination, around them. Watching these kids light will surpass our contributions so far. boosts test scores and builds up when they see their new instruments Stay tuned! imagination. Learning an instrument will put a lump in your throat. also builds confidence, and playing While StubHub would love to give Jessica Erskine is the head of with a group helps foster social and to every school that asks, we have to entertainment communications for team-building skills. make sure that the instruments will be StubHub, an eBay company, which Yet many schools have had to cut well used and have a lasting impact. allows fans to buy and sell tens of or eliminate music programs because MHOF’s thorough vetting ensures thousands of tickets. She brought of a lack of funding, leaving many kids that the money we provide benefits the Next Stage Social Good Music without the benefits of music. That’s students for many years. StubHub Program to life in 2014.

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