Little Kids Rock

Media Contact:

Keith Hejna
Little Kids Rock
Phone: 973.746.8248
keith@littlekidsrock.org

Rich Eckhardt helps national nonprofit restore and revitalize music education amidst public school budget cuts

Cedar Grove, NJ, Aug. 19, 2010 — More children than ever before will return to silent classrooms this fall due to music programs being eliminated from public school budgets nationwide. Fortunately, Little Kids Rock (LKR), a leading nonprofit provider of free musical instruments and teacher trainings in the United States, and Toby Keith guitarist Rich Eckhardt are helping reverse that trend during the “back-to-school” months of August and September.

Eckhardt will donate instruments to, jam with and answer questions from students in four cities who have benefitted from LKR’s free program: Philadelphia, Atlanta, Tampa & Chicago.

“Budgets were cut in April,” said Little Kids Rock’s founder and executive director, David Wish, “but underprivileged children across the country who need music the most will feel the loss in September. That's when they return to school to find that their music programs have been eliminated.”

Eckhardt’s visits are part of a “back-to-school” campaign to raise enough money to bring the gift of free music lessons and instruments to 20,000 more children by winter break.

Fans can donate directly to this cause by visiting:

http://www.razoo.com/story/Help-Bring-Music-To-20-000-Kids-By-Winter-Break

 

Rich Eckhardt’s Schedule of Little Kids Rock School Visits:

1) Philadelphia, PA
WHEN: Saturday, August 21, 2010 – 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
WHERE: The School District of Philadelphia Headquarters: 440 Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19130, Second Floor Auditorium

2) Atlanta, GA
WHEN: Thursday, September 2, 2010 - 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
WHERE: Jean Childs Young Middle School: 3116 Benjamin E. Mays Dr., Atlanta, GA 30311

3) Tampa, FL
WHEN: Friday, September 3, 2010 - 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
WHERE: Oak Grove Elementary: 6315 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa, FL 33604

4) Chicago, IL
WHEN: Saturday, September 18 – 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
WHERE: John Spry School: 2400 S. Marshall Blvd., Chicago, IL 60623

Media are invited to attend all events.

About Little Kids Rock
Little Kids Rock is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization that transforms children’s lives by restoring and revitalizing music education in underfunded public schools. Little Kids Rock was founded in San Francisco in 2002 by David Wish, an elementary school teacher who had grown frustrated with the lack of music education funding at his school. Today, Little Kids Rock is one of the leading nonprofit providers of free lessons and instruments to underprivileged children in US public schools, and has served more than 100,000 students at over 1,200 schools in 24 cities nationwide. Little Kids Rock Honorary Board Members include Bonnie Raitt, Slash, Paul Simon, B.B. King, Ziggy Marley and other famous friends in the music industry. More information can be found at: www.littlekidsrock.org.

About Rich Eckhardt
Rich Eckhardt is one of the most sought after guitarists in music today. His ability to cover multiple styles has put him on stage with singers ranging from Steven Tyler of Aerosmith to Shania Twain and Willie Nelson.

Shortly after moving to Nashville, Tennessee in 1989, his first gig was on the stage of the world famous Grand Ol’ Opry. From there, Rich began a steady run of touring and recording with artists including John Berry, Becky Hobbs, Rodney Atkins, Steve Azar, Eddy Raven, Mel McDaniel, Blake Shelton and Toby Keith.

Today, Eckhardt is extremely busy, balancing his hectic touring schedule with studio sessions and television appearances. He has performed in nearly every major concert venue in the world, played on multi-platinum and Grammy winning albums, entertained for three American presidents and has been seen on most of the industry’s staple television shows including the Tonight show and Superbowl XXXVIII
.