At McCollough-Unis School, the music program is quickly becoming one of the most vibrant parts of the school community. What started as a growing elective has turned into something much bigger – so much so that for this school year, more than half of the entire 7th grade class requested band or orchestra as their elective.

Walk into the music room any morning and you’ll see why.

Students begin lining up as early as 7:30 a.m. – an hour before school starts – eager to play. They prepare their instruments for the day, help each other set up, and share what they’re learning. Older students mentor younger ones. A group of violinists even formed their own practice and mentoring circle.

Today, 131 students – more than a quarter of the entire school – are directly involved in the program. Their enthusiasm is undeniable. One tuba player returning from break greeted his instrument with a joyful, “I missed you!”

Unfortunately, the school’s current inventory is not keeping up with the kids’ enthusiasm. The woodwinds are especially affected – pads constantly fail, springs go missing, and keys fall off without warning.

One flute player’s instrument “blows up” at least twice a week. “It’s not his fault and so frustrating,” Ms. Aleman shared. Another flutist is a strong and dedicated musician, but he’s already had to rotate through three different flutes this year due to repeated repairs.

Ms. Aleman does everything she can to keep things running. She works closely with a local repair shop and has been learning to fix instruments herself to stretch the budget. While the instruments are just functional enough for students to get by, they’re far from what the young musicians need.

Help place the instruments these students deserve directly into their hands.

DONATE TODAY!

Your donation goes to Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, allowing the foundation to work with the 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 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.

How we select schools:

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.