DALLAS (MAY 25, 2021) — The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®, in partnership with Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, will donate musical instruments valued at $20,000 to Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas, Texas. The donation will coincide with the virtual Latin GRAMMY In The Schools™ educational program, featuring a conversation and performance by Latin GRAMMY®-winning singer and songwriter Chiquis.
Students at Thomas Jefferson High School will participate in the virtual program on May 27, 2021, at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT, and the event will be available to stream on the Latin GRAMMYs® YouTube Channel. It will also include a Q&A with Chiquis moderated by Emmy award-winning journalist Jessica Rodríguez.
The donation could not come at a better time, as the school was devastated by tornadoes in 2019, and has struggled greatly through the COVID-19 pandemic and recent ice storms which have forced its students and staff to relocate to different facilities far away from the school grounds. As the school rebuilds, this support will ensure its music programs remain a vital part of the students’ education.
“These students and the Thomas Jefferson High School community have been through so much recently that now, more than ever, they need their music programs to continue to thrive. Music has a wonderful power to transform lives and I truly believe that lots of students will benefit from this donation,” Chiquis expressed, adding “I can’t wait to chat with them and I am preparing a special acoustic performance for them.”
Since the beginning of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation’s partnership with Ford Fund in 2014, more than 20,000 students have benefited from donations of almost $500,000 worth of musical instruments to schools in U.S. cities such as Aransas Pass, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, and New York; as well as internationally in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Mexico City, Mexico; Arecibo, Humacao, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
“This donation could not go to a more deserving school,” said Joe Avila, Manager, U. S. & Latin America, Ford Motor Company Fund. “The Ford Fund and North Texas Ford Dealers, through Ford Driving Dreams, have built an eight-year relationship with the students and staff at Thomas Jefferson High School. Knowing what the community has been through, this donation will help fuel the future successes of these students.”
Latin GRAMMY In The Schools is an educational program that informs and connects music students with professionals in the Latin music industry and supports educational music departments that have financial limitations. The Foundation invites artists, professional musicians and sound engineers to visit middle and high schools, universities or music education institutions to share their personal stories and experiences with students that highlight the effort it takes to overcome career obstacles. The goal is for students to learn to optimize the educational opportunities presented to them, giving them an advantage and strong academic preparation to be able to compete in the music industry.
Previous artists who have participated in the program include: Ángela Aguilar, David Bisbal, Marilina Bertoldi, Miguel Bosé, Calle 13, Pedro Capó, Chino & Nacho, Luis Coronel, Silvestre Dangond, Joss Favela, Fonseca, Luis Fonsi, Becky G, Karol G, Kany García, Gente de Zona, Leslie Grace, Carlos Jean, Jesse & Joy, Natalia Lafourcade, Poncho Lizárraga, Claudia Montero, Ednita Nazario, Christian Nodal, Ángel “Cucco” Peña, Prince Royce, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Olga Tañón, Thalia, Christian Serratos, Diego Torres, Carlos Vives, Wisin, and Sebastián Yatra.
