CMA Makes Record $2.9M Donation

CMA has announced it will donate all net proceeds from the 2010 CMA Music Festival to support music education and flood relief in Metro Nashville, for a record sum of $2,924,936. The donation will be split between CMA’s “Keep The Music Playing” campaign and the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. CMA Board member Kix Brooks made the announcement.

“When we started this program several years ago, the success of the Music Festival itself and the opportunity to have an ongoing contribution to aid in the music programs of our local schools, was just a dream – today we have a reality that’s has far exceeded our imaginations,” said Brooks. “It’s working and I can’t thank my fellow artists and all the other CMA volunteers enough. Considering the year our community has had, the faithful support from the fans of Country Music could not have come at better time. Big time thanks to everyone!”

“Every cent of the net proceeds from CMA Music Festival is going right back into this community to support causes important to everyone in the industry – music education and aiding recovery in the aftermath of the floods,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “We are thrilled to make a donation of this size and we have confidence that the funds will be put to immediate and good use reaching the hands of the people who need it most.”

With the announcement, CMA has contributed $4,774,521 to support music education. This money has been used to build music labs and purchase nearly 4,000 instruments in Metro Nashville Public Schools through a partnership with the Nashville Alliance for Public Education. The total also includes an annual endowment gift for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Words & Music program, which assists language arts and music teachers with classroom instruction in the basics of songwriting.

Ellen Lehman, President of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, received a check on behalf of her organization to benefit flood relief.

“Thanks to the kindness of the CMA’s fans, performers and the CMA itself, there is now additional money to help our neighbors rebuild their lives,” said Lehman. “Through grants to local nonprofits which are counseling, rebuilding homes, and feeding, this gift will assist The Community Foundation and our nonprofit partners as we work toward restoring every corner of our community until the task is completed. Our sincerest thanks to the CMA and its performers and fans.”