NEWPORT, RI (CelebrityAccess) — The Newport Festivals Foundation has donated $5,000 to the Harmony Project – a nonprofit that provides free music instruction and instruments to youth in underserved areas of LA.
The funds were donated in the name of Lucius, a four-piece indie pop group who performed at Newport Folk this year.
The funds will be used to underwrite expenses for Harmony Project’s Leimert Park vocal/choir program – specifically to support the teacher’s salary and music supplies (purchasing music, music stands, etc). The choir program engages students in a collaborative choir setting and incorporates spoken word, poetry, and songwriting into the curriculum.
“In our childhood communities, we experienced a lack of emphasis on creativity and arts – be it a lack of funding or just the attention and support necessary to nurture artistic development. On the flip side, we’ve also experienced the relief of knowing what it’s like to find a community who understands the importance of expression. It’s very clear that music education also promotes team building, communication, joy, focus etc.. Having somewhere to let yourself go, and to feel heard as an adolescent is of indescribable value. We are happy and honored to contribute to this mission,” Lucious said the donation.
The Newport Festivals Foundation has made other contributions to charitable causes recently, including a $5,000 donation to Brandi Carlile’s foundation, Looking Out Foundation.
Over the course of the past few months, Brandi’s team has worked with Seattle Music Partners to identify Lowell Elementary – a school in the Seattle area that will use the funds to create free after-school and evening music programs.
Of the partnership, Brandi noted, “thank you Newport Festivals Foundation for supporting the Looking Out Foundation and music education – which is so vital to supporting our youth in Seattle and building the next generation of artists.”
The Festivals Foundation also announced that Carlile has been appointed to the Board of Advisors for the Newport Folk Festival.
