Thank you for your support. We are no longer taking donations for the Joplin Music Program
With your support, The Foundation For Music Education has already sent $8,468.95 to the Joplin Music Program. Thank You!
Entrance to Joplin HS (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
As the tragic details of the Joplin Tornado and its aftermath continue to lead the news, many find themselves asking how they can help. The extensive damage of the storm includes homes, businesses, churches, and schools.
Joplin High School (the only public high school in Joplin), which suffered a direct hit by the tornado, was completely destroyed. School and district officials put total district damages between $80 and $100 million. At the high school alone, the band/orchestra room, choir room, and auditorium were lost. This includes all school equipment, instruments, and the music libraries. In addition, many of the music students lost their personal instruments to the storm.
Joplin HS Auditorium (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
The Foundation for Music Education created the special Joplin Music Program Relief Fund in an effort to support these music programs in their time of need. It is our hope that all supporters of music and music education will find a way to get involved in this effort.
The Foundation For Music would also like to thank the Harrison High School Band Department in Harrison, Arkansas. They reacted quickly to the Joplin tornado victims. Students, parents, faculty members and community leaders combined resources and took a truck load of supplies to the North Middle School in Joplin. Items consisted of (bottled water, personal hygiene items, non-perishable food and clothing). Members of the Joplin School District, band members and students from neighboring high school bands were on hand to unload the items. All of the items delivered were to be distributed to Joplin band families and school district employees and their families. Director of Harrison Bands, Randy Mealer worked closely with Joplin Director of Bands Rich Castor to coordinate the effort.