The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation
Montello Elementary School Music Program
Montello Elementary School in Lewiston, ME needs support for their music program.
Story
Montello Elementary School needs support for their music program! The school is in need of Orff instruments to give the students a new musical experience that will give them ensemble experience and prepare them for band. Additionally, they are in need of trumpets, trombones, flutes, clarinets, and alto saxophones to allow additional students to participate.
Montello is one of the most diverse elementary schools in the state of Maine, with over 50% of our population being multilingual learners. With each new wave of refugees and immigrants, our cultural diversity grows and expands. The vision statement our community developed together perfectly encapsulates who we strive to be: Montello school is a thriving community where we encourage and inspire each other to learn the skills we need to grow and reach our dreams in a safe and supportive environment.
Our students are passionate about the things that they love. As the music teacher, I may be biased, but one of the things they are most passionate about is music. Music that they experience at home, at school, and on TikTok with their friends. Ask any teacher in this building, and you'll hear stories of students dancing down our hallways. They just can't contain the music that's inside of them.
One example of this is a girl who has been my student since kindergarten and is now in the sixth grade. When she started, she was withdrawn and almost painfully shy. This discomfort persisted for years, including a period of time when she would shake and cry if asked to sing in front of her peers. I've had the immense honor of watching her grow into her creative self. She now participates in both band and chorus. Her band teacher, Zach Lampron, shared that now, in her second year of playing flute, she's started helping other students during their woodwind lessons. The joy that radiates from Layla when she is making music is unparalleled. I'm grateful I've gotten to watch this chapter of her story. - Karissa Nelsen, General Music Teacher
With generous and transformative support from Eddie Van Halen over the years and now continuing through his son Wolfgang, The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation is pleased to announce that the Van Halen Family has committed to kickstarting the Adopt A School campaign with a generous $1,000 donation towards each of the first 100 participating schools.
Schools participating in the Adopt A School campaign are qualified through MHOF’s vetting and eligibility process, giving donors confidence that their investment is protected and sustainable, impacting students for a minimum of 10 years (the lifespan of an instrument in a school setting.) Donations made to this school’s fundraising campaign go directly to The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation (MHOF). MHOF then purchases the specific instruments the school is in need of at a substantially discounted price and the instruments deliver directly to the school.
Donate today and help these students foster their love of music, every dollar counts!
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 The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation's Adopt A School campaign, visit mhopus.org/adopt-a-school or contact MHOF at info@mhopus.org or 818-762-4328.
[5% of donations are retained for JustGiving’s required service fee, MHOF retains an additional 10% to cover administrative costs associated with school vetting and granting of instruments.]
