As New Sponsor of the Jazz Fest, M&T Launches Initiative to Gather Instruments for Local Students
ELMIRA, N.Y.—M&T Bank announced today it has become a new sponsor of the Ferrario Southern Tier Jazz Festival, the premier summer jazz concert in the Elmira and Corning area. To celebrate its sponsorship, M&T Bank will launch a new initiative to collect musical instruments for local students at the Jazz Festival.
M&T will use the booth space it receives as a Jazz Fest sponsor as a site for donations of musical instruments. All instruments gathered will go to the Economic Opportunity Program (EOP) to support its music programs and provide local children with the chance to cultivate their musical talents.
“At M&T Bank, we’re committed to supporting the arts in the communities we serve. When we became a sponsor of the Southern Tier Jazz Festival, we were eager to leverage our sponsorship to further make a difference for our community. By donating our booth space to collect musical instruments for students, we hope to provide local children with a chance to explore their interests and potentially discover a gift that will forever enrich their lives,” said Anne Tiberia, M&T Bank Retail Market Manager for the Southern Tier. “We encourage our neighbors to give new life to their used instruments by donating them to local students in need.”
“We’re so pleased to work alongside M&T Bank to ensure the children we serve have the opportunity to develop their musical talents,” said Andrea Ogunwumi, Economic Opportunity Program CEO and Executive Director. “Music education can inspire children to strive for greatness and enhance their academic performance in other subjects, and we’re excited to bolster our offerings with instrument donations from the community. This joint effort with M&T Bank will help us support the artistic pursuits of local students.”
To donate an instrument, bring it to M&T Bank’s booth at the Southern Tier Jazz Festival on either Friday, August 18 or Saturday, August 19. On Friday, M&T will have a table inside the Clemens Center, where they’ll be gathering instruments from 6-9 p.m., and on Saturday, instrument donations can be made from 2-7 p.m. at M&T’s booth at Thorne Street Park.
For those unable to attend Jazz Fest, musical instruments can be dropped off at the EOP’s headquarters, 650 Baldwin St. in Elmira, during business hours, starting Monday, August 21.
Renting or purchasing musical instruments can be cost-prohibitive for many families, which may limit the opportunities children have for artistic expression. The donated instruments will become important tools to help get students started, and they will also help gifted students who may not have their own instruments continue on their path toward success in music.
The EOP’s Ernie Davis Community Center Music Consortium offers cultural enrichment and music training to area youth. Local students can gain access to lessons and other support to learn musical instruments and voice techniques. The instruments gathered through this drive will help expand the Consortium’s offerings and opportunities for local children. Donating an instrument to the EOP is a tax-deductible contribution.
“You may have made a lot of memories with that trumpet or violin that’s collecting dust in your attic, but it could help change a child’s life by helping them find their passion and foster their talents,” Tiberia added.
M&T and EOP encourage the community to share their used musical instruments at this year’s Jazz Fest and to let friends know about this opportunity to give back. In addition to instruments, supplies such as music stands, guitar strings and drum sticks, are welcome and appreciated.
For more information on the Southern Tier Jazz Festival, visit www.southerntierjazzfestival.com.
About M&T Bank
M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T’s principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, operates banking offices in New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Trust-related services are provided by M&T’s Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank. © 2017 M&T Bank. Member FDIC.
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Julia Berchou
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