The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® and Ford Motor Company Fund join forces to offer a virtual educational program
MIAMI (NOV. 10, 2020) — The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®, in partnership with Ford Motor Company Fund, has announced the second virtual Latin GRAMMY In The Schools™ program as part of their ongoing support for music education during the COVID-19 pandemic. The special event will feature an educational panel and performance by Latin GRAMMY®-winning singer/songwriter Karol G, who has four nominations for the upcoming 21st Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®. The program will benefit SLAM, a public charter school in Miami, with a donation of musical instruments valued at $20,000. Set for Nov. 10, 2020, at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT, the event can be watched on the Latin GRAMMYs® YouTube Channel and will also include a Q&A with students, moderated by Peabody award-winning news personality Mariana Atencio.
Located in one of the city's impoverished neighborhoods, SLAM serves students 11 to 18 years of age, from 6th through 12th grades, and has a Hispanic student population of over 85 percent. This donation will help expand its music program, which is currently made up of only a choir. The goal is to have more students participate and teach them how to play instruments such as guitar, bass, ukulele, keyboard, drum set, congas and timbales.
"I am extremely happy to be able to lend my voice to support this beautiful cause," said Karol G. "It's a pleasure to be a part of an event that can inspire and help all those dreamers who want to thrive in the music world."
The program was adapted to a virtual format to best serve students despite the unique challenges imposed by the pandemic, thereby giving them a chance to watch from any mobile device or computer.
"The education of new generations is a priority at Ford, and we know that music inspires and showcases culture, and it is fundamental for academic development in areas such as science and technology," said Joe Ávila, Manager, U.S. and Latin America, Ford Motor Company Fund. "At Ford Fund, we are proud to continue supporting students globally with resources and tools. We are delighted to donate musical instruments to the talented students at SLAM."
Since the beginning of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation's partnership with Ford Fund — the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company — in 2014, more than 7,000 students have benefited from donations of more than $500,000 worth of musical instruments to schools in U.S. cities such as Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami and New York, as well as internationally, in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Mexico City, Mexico; and Arecibo, Humacao and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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 and 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, 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, Diego Torres, Carlos Vives, Wisin and Sebastián Yatra.
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ABOUT KAROL G:
Carolina Giraldo Navarro, known internationally as Karol G, is a Latin GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter from Medellín, Colombia. She studied music at the Universidad de Antioquia and later took music business administration courses in the United States. In addition to winning Best New Artist at the 18th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, her versatility and star power have led to collaborations with artists such as Anuel AA, Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Jonas Brothers, Luis Fonsi, Nicky Jam, Ozuna and Quavo. She has amassed more than 60 million followers across social media and 7.3 billion views on her YouTube channel, and has toured around the world, performing over 100 concerts per year in Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. Her global hit "Tusa," featuring Nicki Minaj, has reached more than 4.5 billion streams and has been certified platinum 21 times by the RIAA.
ABOUT THE LATIN GRAMMY CULTURAL FOUNDATION:
The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation was established by The Latin Recording Academy® to promote international awareness and appreciation of the significant contributions of Latin music and its makers to the world's culture, and to protect its rich musical legacy and heritage. The Foundation's primary charitable focus is to provide scholarships to students interested in Latin music, as well as grants to scholars and organizations worldwide for research and preservation of diverse Latin music genres. Take action in supporting our mission by donating today via our Facebook page. For additional information, please visit us at www.latingrammyculturalfoundation.com. For the latest news and exclusive content, follow us at @latingrammyfdn on Twitter and Instagram, and Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation on Facebook.
ABOUT FORD MOTOR COMPANY FUND:
As the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, Ford Fund’s mission is to strengthen communities and help make people’s lives better. Working with Ford employees, dealers and nonprofit partners in more than 50 countries, Ford Fund provides access to opportunities and resources that help people reach their full potential. Since 1949, Ford Fund has invested more than $2 billion in programs that support education, promote safe driving, enrich community life and encourage employee volunteering. For more information, visit https://www.fordfund.org/or join us at @FordFund on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
The Lippin Group on behalf of The Latin Recording Academy
Elina Adut
323.965.1990
The Latin Recording Academy
Justin Tejada
305.576.0036