AUSTIN, Texas, April 20, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The month of April is nationally recognized as Child Abuse Prevention Month. With this month-long observance, Texas based non-profit Kids In A New Groove is partnering with legendary rock group The Moody Blues to collect new and gently used musical instruments and raise money for children in foster care. The Moody Blues, who have sold in excess of 70 million albums worldwide, are shedding light on the plight of foster youth by participating in the drive. Fifty percent of children in foster care become homeless within two years of aging out, and less than two percent go to college. Kids in a New Groove (K.I.N.G.) seeks to change these statistics with their dynamic music education program which provides private music lessons and instruments to children in the Texas foster care system. As foster children move between placements, a K.I.N.G. teacher moves with each child, providing a consistent and stable mentor. The K.I.N.G. program also helps children build life skills, accountability, and perseverance. Each foster child is given the chance to earn their very own musical instrument through dedication and hard work, as well as encouraged to perform at concerts and recitals. The instrument and funds drive is sorely needed as recent budget cuts put Texas in 50th place for per capita funding of foster children.
How You Can Help
The Moody Blues at Austin City Limits Live Moody Theater Monetary donations and instruments can be dropped off at the Moody Blues concert on April 28th at the new Austin City Limits Live Moody Theater in Austin, Texas (310 West 2nd Street.) Doors 6:30 PM/Show 8 PM. Instruments can also be donated between April 21-May 21 in Austin at Strait Music's North location (13945 Hwy. 183 North @ Hwy 620, Austin, TX 78717) and South location (2428 W Ben White Blvd @ S Lamar, Austin, TX 78704) Monday – Friday 9:30am – 7:00pm and Saturdays 9:30am – 5:30pm. For other donation arrangements, please email shanti@kidsinanewgroove.org, to arrange for KING to pick up the instrument.
Outside of central Texas Financial donations can be made on the K.I.N.G. website at http://www.kidsinanewgroove.org/instrumentdrive.
For more about the drive, watch our video, http://bit.ly/kingdrive, or visit www.kidsinanewgroove.org/instrumentdrive. For up-to-date news, follow Kids In A New Groove on Twitter (KidsGroove) and on Facebook.
CONTACT / Kids In A New Groove
Karyn Scott Karyn@kidsinanewgroove.org
Shanti Grossman Shanti@kidsinanewgroove.org/512-659-2154
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