Bank of America Puts Spotlight on Music Education and Gives Back to the Community

Little Kids Rock Named as the Featured Music Educator in Bank of America Associates World Music Festival

Sept. 30th, 2003- San Francisco, CA- - Little Kids Rock (LKR), an innovative non-profit music education program that provides free instruments and instruction to disadvantaged children, is pleased to announce that it will be the featured educational non-profit during Bank of America's World Music Festival. The event being held on September 30th from 11am-2pm was created for Bank of America associates by Team Bank of America's Golden Gate Diversity Network. It will promote world music and music education while highlighting local musicians and music organizations. Approximately 200 to 300 Bank of America associates will have the opportunity to learn more about the music and culture from several parts of the world while finding out how they can get involved with the Bay Area music community.

"Bank of America has a long-standing tradition of giving back to the community," said Charlene Sherman, VP and Co-President of Team Bank of America's Golden Gate Diversity Network. "We value the culture and diversity in the area that we call home and know that it is important that these higher standards resonate within our workplace. We are delighted to connect our associates with a well-respected and dedicated organization like Little Kids Rock."

"Little Kids Rock is a grassroots organization that raises awareness one person at a time through community outreach and involvement," said Barbara Crossen, West Coast Director, Little Kids Rock. "It is so refreshing to know that Bank of America works to spread this same grassroots philanthropic message to their associates."

The three-hour event will feature live performances from Little Kids Rock students, internationally recognized percussionist and recording artist Michael Spiro, performance artist Tania Llambelis, dancer Carolina Garcia and will close with a performance from the local band, Class Act. Additionally, Bay Area LKR programs will be the beneficiaries of proceeds generated from an on-sight raffle that includes items donated by Sony, HHI and the San Francisco Giants.

LKR students learn to perform, compose and record their own music in a variety of genres including pop, rock, funk, blues, rap and hip-hop. In addition to releasing four full-length CDs, Little Kids Rock participants have also recorded three music videos featuring student-written original songs. To date, the Little Kids Rock program has served more than 2,000 students in California, New York, New Jersey and Tennessee. Supporters of the program include Paul Simon, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Les Paul, Carlos Santana, the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir, The String Cheese Incident, Phish, and the late blues legend, John Lee Hooker.

About Little Kids Rock
Little Kids Rock believes that music is a critical component of first-rate education. Many elementary schools have been stripped of their music programs. These cuts have had a disproportionately large impact on children from low-income backgrounds. Little Kids Rock restores music to its rightful place in the academic lives of kids in our public schools by providing a rich music education program including instrument instruction, free instruments and trained mentors. Founded by a single elementary school teacher in 1996, Little Kids Rock is now serving 2,000 students in CA, NY, NJ and TN. Bonnie Raitt, Paul Simon, BB King and Les Paul sit on our Honorary Board of Directors and we are supported by friends Carlos Santana, Phish, Bob Weir and others. Little Kids Rock programs are scheduled to launch in the Los Angeles area in 2004.

Media Contact:
Allison Neves, PR Director
Little Kids Rock
415-948-1200
allison@littlekidsrock.org