In March 2008, David Jaffin came up with the idea to collect and donate musical instruments to donate to schools in New Orleans. David wanted to do something to help after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. He had heard that many instruments had been lost or destroyed after the hurricane. His idea was to help rebuild the community of New Orleans with the Gift of Music.
In April 2008, we received a wishlist from a principal at Woodmere Elementary School in Harvey, Louisiana to start a percussion based music program. At the time, he was in sixth grade and was on student council at school. He presented the idea to student council and they voted to give him $700. With an additional $200 which we added, we were able to purchase 40 percussion instruments which included a full size drum set for Woodmere Elementary School in Harvey, Lousiana, a school that was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina.
David’s story can be seen in The Rivertown’s Enterprise news Volume 33, number 27, October 3, 2008.David was given an award with his family from Greenburgh Town Hall on l0/23/08 for his achievement. In spring 2008, David Jaffin wrote an article in Kids X-Press about his project in a section titled “Kid’s Helping Kids”. David’s father, Dr. Barry Jaffin entered David’s idea and project to Oprah’s Big Give through Oprah Magazine. We are working together as a family. Winner of OPRAH’S BIG GIVE for $5,000 (generously donated by Target) was used to purchase new instruments for KIPP Believe College Prep School in New Orleans.
On April 30,2009, we along with Exploring the Arts founded by Tony Bennett and his wife, Susan, The Gibson Foundation (Music Rising), Oprah Magazine ($5000 donated by Target), and the Mr. Holland Opus Foundation joined together to provide $l00,000 of instruments to KIPP Believe College Prep in New Orleans. The entire donation was sparked by David’s idea and project.
Over the past year and several months, David collected and donated over l00 instruments. Twenty-four were donated to KIPP Believe College Prep school in New Orleans valued at $l2,500. Also we donated $ll,200 which included $5000 winnings from Oprah Big Give Contest (donated by Target) and $4000 collected in donations by David Jaffin. The wonderful Mr. Holland Opus Foundation was able to purchase new instruments valued at $22,400 for KIPP Believe College Prep school in New Orleans. In addition, David collected l2 violins and l viola. We donated these to The New Orleans String Project in June 2009.
Additional items collected that were too large or could not be shipped were donated to Urban Assembly High School in New York and to Central Park East Elementary school in New York.
We are continuing to collect any working musical instrument
PLEASE DONATE. To donate please email RJaffin@aol.com
Thank you.