The Avril Lavigne Foundation Awards Easter Seals Nevada
With Noteworthy $10,000 Grant
Easter Seals teams up with School of Rock to provide year-long music series for youth with disabilities
Easter Seals Nevada, the nonprofit that serves more than 8,000 Nevadans with disabilities every year, was recently awarded a $10,000 grant from The Avril Lavigne Foundation to fund the Avril Lavigne Rockstar Club at Easter Seals, a series of recreational and musical programs for youth with disabilities. Easter Seals has teamed up with School of Rock, the local chapter of the music school inspiring kids to rock on stage and in life, to execute the new year-long programming.
“Every dollar counts at Easter Seals and we are so excited to share music with our youth through the Avril Lavigne Foundation grant,” said Brian Patchett, President and CEO of Easter Seals Nevada. “This programming gives kids with disabilities the chance to not only play musical instruments and learn the fundamentals, but express themselves through music.”
Through this new program at School of Rock, Easter Seals is helping youth with disabilities develop creatively by expressing themselves through music in a social and team-building environment. With an emphasis on song interpretation, rhythm, live singing, playing with a band and perfecting “rock star” poses, participants are encouraged to embrace their inner rock star while exploring and experiencing music through drums, keyboard, tambourines, egg shakers, microphones and more.
Groups of Easter Seals clients ages 10-18 are teamed up with house band members from School of Rock for a full integration experience. The programming focuses on a different musical artist each month, ranging from the classic Rock n’ Roll beats of Elvis and the King of Pop Michael Jackson to the hard rock sounds of AC/DC and the Pop Punk hits from Avril Lavigne.
Easter Seals Nevada strives to create solutions that help people with disabilities become self-sufficient through education, community partnerships and direct services.
About Easter Seals Nevada
Since 1950, Easter Seals Nevada has been advocating for, and working with, infants, children, youth and adults who have disabilities and other challenges. We work to address our community’s social service gaps, and to leverage partnerships and other strategic opportunities to increase participation in economic and civic life for all people. Easter Seals Nevada is one of Nevada’s largest community disability agencies serving more than 8,000 people with disabilities and their families each year. To keep up with Easter Seals Nevada’s news and events, follow us on Twitter @EasterSealsNV and like us on Facebook or visit our website at www.eastersealsnevada.org.
About Avril Lavigne
Avril Lavigne is a multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated singer/ songwriter. Avril is also a dedicated philanthropist, who was inspired by her work with children who are seriously ill or who have disabilities to form The Avril Lavigne Foundation in 2010. She also currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Nancy Davis Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis and has publicly supported a number of charitable organizations over the years, including Amnesty International, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, War Child, and YouthAIDS.
About The Avril Lavigne Foundation
Award-winning singer/songwriter and philanthropist Avril Lavigne created The Avril Lavigne Foundation in early 2010. The Avril Lavigne Foundation R.O.C.K.S.: Respect, Opportunity, Choices, Knowledge, and Strength in support of children and youth living with serious illnesses or disabilities. The Foundation partners with leading charitable organizations to design and deliver programs, raise awareness and mobilize support for children and youth living with a serious illness or a disability.
