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In the Raymond Jr./Sr. High School band room, the students’ enthusiasm allows them to rise above the day-to-day challenges of learning on the school’s aging equipment.
There are 91 students, grades 5-12, who take part in Raymond’s Beginning Band and Jr. High/High School School Band programs. The school serves a student body with 70% economically disadvantaged students, and does not have the budget to provide quality instruments to everyone who needs one.
Band director Matt Lanka explained, “It’s difficult to provide for all of them, especially for us to do it equitably, and be able to get them an instrument that they’re excited to play and that I know works well.” He said one of his saxophone players is doing his best on an instrument held together by masking tape. It has a cork that falls off and when it does, the student just asks for more tape without complaint and keeps on playing. He has another student who is excited to come to band every day despite his daily battles with his tuba valves getting stuck.
These are the only instruments I have to give them, and I am always amazed at how positive and excited they are to play... music is much less frustrating to learn when you are playing an instrument that is functioning 100% properly. These students deserve better.” Mr. Lanka, Band Director
Meeting this school’s goal will place new instruments in the hands of students at Raymond Jr./Sr. High School. Donate today to give these enthusiastic young people quality instruments so they can have the enjoyable band experience all students deserve.
DONATE TODAY!
Your donation goes to Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, allowing the foundation to work with Raymond Jr./Sr. High School's music teacher to purchase the school’s needed instruments. Instruments are then delivered directly to the school.
Every contribution helps! Your generous support will:
*Equip students with high-quality instruments
*Expand access to music education and grow participation
*Inspire creativity, confidence, and success in school and life
How your donation works:
Your cash donation goes directly to the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation to help purchase the instruments each school needs at deeply discounted rates (typically one-third of retail price). Instruments are delivered directly to the school; no cash is given to schools. A 5% service fee is retained by JustGiving, and the Foundation retains 10% to cover administrative costs, including school vetting and grant management.
With generous and transformative support from Eddie Van Halen over the years and now continuing through his son Wolfgang, Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation is pleased to announce that the Van Halen Family has committed to kickstarting the Adopt A School campaign with a generous $1,000 donation towards each of the first 100 participating schools.
How we select schools:
The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation identifies schools through a combination of outreach and research, focusing on those that meet specific grant eligibility requirements. Once a school is determined to be eligible, the music teacher is invited to complete a detailed grant application and participate in an in-person or virtual site visit. This process helps the Foundation understand the school’s unique needs and ensures that any donation will result in a sustainable, long-term impact on students’ access to music education.
More ways to help:
To spread the word on social media or link to this page in your own fundraising efforts, use the links below! And to learn more about Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation's Adopt A School campaign, visit mhopus.org/adopt-a-school or contact us at info@mhopus.org or 818-762-4328.