May 20, 2005 -- Renaissance Learning Center is the recipient of a grant from The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, a national non-profit organization devoted to supporting music
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that was inspired by the 1995 motion picture of the same name. The grant consisted of a variety of instruments for use by students in the music program.
“Music programs have many benefits for children with autism,” said Isis Ryan-Russo, music teacher at Renaissance Learning Center. “You are able to build on music as a non-verbal communication system and it gives children with autism another avenue to express themselves.”
The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation provides grants in the form of instrument donations to K-12 schools threatened by budget cuts, community schools for the arts and after-
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programs as well as individual students who are financially limited and unable to afford an instrument. Schools and students can apply for a grant by going to www.mhopus.org and downloading an application, or by calling The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation at 818-784-6787.
“Music programs in schools across the country are increasingly being cut or scaled-back due to budget cuts,” said Felice Mancini, executive director of The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation. “Music
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has proven positive effects on a child’s emotional and intellectual growth; we want to keep music alive in schools and communities and to support the schools that recognize the value of music programs.”
Research has shown that the benefits of music education to children include success in society, school, developing intelligence and general success in life. Definitive links have been made between students involved in music education and their academic performance, reasoning skills, work habits and low incidence of substance abuse.
The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation supports music education and its many benefits through the donation and repair of musical instruments to underserved schools, community music programs and individual students nationwide. The organization was inspired by the 1995 motion picture “Mr. Holland’s Opus” and was founded by Michael Kamen, who composed the music for that movie and countless others. In the last seven years, new and refurbished instruments with a value of approximately $5 million have been donated to more than 600 school and community music programs across the country. More information can be found at www.mhopus.org.
