Miami Music Project Announces New $1M Gift & Three Visionary Community Leaders to Join Board!
MIAMI, FL — Now in its 11th Season of transforming young lives through the universal power of music, Miami Music Project is thrilled to announce a brand new $1 Million gift and the addition of three remarkable community leaders to the Board of Trustees.
Former President and CEO of the Adrienne Arsht Center, John Richard With the mission of providing every child access to quality music programs regardless of race, income, zip code, and citizenship, this announcement sets the stage for a pivotal time in history for one of Miami’s most successful and impactful non-profit organizations.
The $1 Million anonymous gift, recently received from an unsolicited donor, will directly serve Miami Music Project’s 10-year strategic plan, focused on expanding the reach and footprint across Miami-Dade County. This astonishing, unrestricted investment positions Miami Music Project for the next decade of success – multiplying the programmatic vision of securing better futures for thousands of young people from Miami’s most disadvantaged communities.
Concurrently, recent Board recruitment efforts have resulted in the induction of some of the most influential local visionaries and philanthropists as new Board Trustees, to assist in guiding the organization over the next decade, beginning with the fearless Miami arts leader John Richard.
Maria Pia Leon
As the former President and CEO of the Adrienne Arsht Center, John Richard had a fundamental impact on Miami Music Project during its humble beginnings when the organization got its start in a wardrobe-room-turned-office in the Arsht Center’s Knight Concert Hall. After spending more than a decade at the helm of Miami’s leading arts and culture institution, Richard has been instrumental in shaping the very fabric of Miami’s rich and diverse, vibrant and booming cultural landscape. His appointment as a Board Trustee of the Miami Music Project underlines his deep personal commitment to Miami’s community and future, and the work and progress of the organization over the past decade. “Miami Music Project is a bold musical arts education initiative incubated at the Arsht Center 10 years ago,” expressed Richard during his first Miami Music Project board meeting. “I am honored to join the board to further its dynamic programs on behalf of Miami-Dade students.”
Together with Richard, two additional Board Members were inducted over the summer: Maria Pia Leon, Director of Client Advisory Services for the Forbes Family Trust, and Eugene “Gene” Stark, a Miami native, philanthropist, and a member of the MIT’s Council For the Arts.
Gene StarkMaria Pia Leon brings more than two decades of experience working in the financial industry. “When I attended the 10th anniversary concert by the Miami Music Project,” she said, “I was taken over not only by the performance but, most importantly, by the faces of the kids and their parents! You could see their pride, the feeling of being acknowledged, they were thriving right in front of my eyes. Miami Music Project clearly has a social impact on these individuals and, through them, on our society. That is why I joined the Board.”
Gene Stark, who has dedicated his life to advancing and promoting the importance of high quality musical arts, has been a long-time supporter of Miami Music Project. Once approached about joining the Board he did not hesitate. “I’m excited to become more involved with the Miami Music Project, which is already enhancing many children's lives with overcoming obstacles to find the joys and satisfaction of dedication to music,” noted Stark. “This unique organization is already a growing contributor to the cultural vibrancy of the Miami area but I strongly believe that ultimately it will also become a strong model for other regions to emulate.”
Cultural vibrancy is just a part of the huge impact Miami Music Project is having on communities. A study performed by Florida International University’s Community-Based Research Institute has found that Miami Music Project’s rigorous orchestral model of musical instruction positively affects the behavior and development of school-aged children. Youth seem to acquire not only cognitive benefits but also a host of social and emotional enhancements.
As of today, Miami Music Project has reached thousands of children and youth across Miami-Dade County, achieving national prominence as one of the largest, most successful socially transformative music initiatives in the US. Inspired by the El Sistema philosophy, a global phenomenon and movement of social change through music, Miami Music Project understands that the same way it “takes a village” to raise a child, it also takes a village to elevate a community. And today, Miami Music Project is taking a giant leap for the betterment of Miami’s youth, families, and, as a result, society.
“This exciting new $1 Million investment in Miami Music Project’s mission and vision, alongside the addition of these three new Trustees, provides a tremendous springboard for the organization’s next chapter. We are thrilled!” said Executive Director Anna Klimala.
