Sigma Alpha Iota

SAI PHILaNTHrOPIES, Inc. Corporate Sponsorship and the MEOG Campaign By Daryle Gardner-Bonneau, A Chairman, SAI Philanthropies, Inc. s many readers of Pan Pipes know, SAI Philanthropies, Inc. ran a special fundraising campaign last year to support the Music Education Outreach Grants (MEOGs). Each region of SAI was challenged to raise $5,000 to support an MEOG last year, and the regional campaign netted over $30,000 — enough to allow us to give eight grants (five additional grants beyond the usual three), and we are most grateful for this chapter support. In addition to the regional campaign, however, the Philanthropies Board and National Headquarters staff invested significant time and resources in putting together a corporate MEOG campaign, with solicitation packets sent to over 100 music, instrument, and accessory companies across the country. This was our first-ever effort to approach corporate supporters with a targeted campaign, and we learned a lot of lessons in the process and know how to do it better in the future. I can't say that our expectations were high (in fact, just the opposite), but the results surpassed our expectations thanks to the incredible generosity of one company: Kennedy Violins, of Portland, Washington. Kennedy Violins was quick to respond to our solicitation; I received a phone call from Joel Kennedy within a week or two of the corporate mailing, with an open-ended offer of in-kind support in the form of string instruments. Joel's only stipulation was that Kennedy Violins wanted to spread its support across several grants, rather than funding one MEOG in full ($5,000). Even more surprising, he set no upper monetary limit on the company's potential support. But despite the efforts of several Philanthropies Board members to encourage string teachers to apply, there were no stringbased MEOG applications this past year! Undaunted, I approached MEOG Director Brenda Smith and the Strings Outreach Grant Director Marilyn Daggett to see if they could pinpoint string programs that received these two grants in the recent past. In this way, we identified several potential "leads" for Kennedy Violins, including the school district in Joplin, MO, whose instruments were completely destroyed by last spring's tornadoes. And Kennedy Violins wasted no time in following up! One of their employees, Rachel Davis, is an SAI and was very excited about the prospects. As a result, Kennedy Violins, to date, has provided eight violins to SAI Amy Ziegenhorn's string program in Phoenix (which she was thinking of dropping, because of lack of instrument inventory), nine violas, and two cellos to Ashley Clark, the 2009 MEOG grant winner whose Williamstown, VA, string program received the instruments, and seven violins and two violas to the Joplin Schools string program. Who can doubt the appreciation of the music students in Joplin when looking at the below photos of these students with their new instruments! Kennedy Violins also worked to make a gift, through the Tampa (FL) Alumnae SAI Philanthropies, Inc. presented a plaque of gratitude to Kennedy Violins for their donations to three school systems. Chapter, to a local school district string program that the Tampa ladies have been supporting for years. At the present time, the gifts from Kennedy Violins are valued at $7,309.14, and needless to say, we are thrilled and so pleased to have received this corporate support during the MEOG campaign. We don't know where this ends, but we do know that SAI and all these recipients are very appreciative of the generosity of Kennedy Violins, whose support for music education clearly comes from a deep commitment to and love of string music. Our sincere thanks to Joel Kennedy, Rachel Davis, and everyone at Kennedy Violins! Over a decade ago, Kennedy Violins began offering professional and student violins, violas, and cellos with an emphasis on providing stellar customer service. We specialize in providing you with the highest quality instruments and accessories at unbeatable low prices. Kennedy Violins is owned and operated by musicians who currently perform and/or teach. We support our instruments with a lifetime warranty. kennedyviolins.com 8 PAN PIPESSPRING 2012 sai-national.org Joplin, Mo, students receive new musical instruments provided through corporate support by Kennedy Violins.

• Cover