Among the guitars, violins, cellos and other stringed instruments out on loan to kids at the Joy of Music School, there are precisely 278 individual strings. (They know because they counted.) The school hopes to replace each one before the spring recital with a month-long text campaign.
The average string costs $10 to replace, so during the month of February, when donors text JOM to 20222, $10 is added to their mobile bill and 100 percent of the money goes directly to the school.
“Strings wear out, so we must replace them constantly,” says executive director Francis Graffeo. “We only need 278 generous people to help us out. It’s remarkably easy to do.”
The nonprofit school, which provides free music lessons to local children, would like to replace all the strings for the kids before the spring recital on May 5.
But the opportunity to text ends Feb. 28.
The Joy of Music School extends a special thanks to U.S. Cellular for making the campaign possible.
The Joy of Music School is a nonprofit organization, provides free music lessons and instruments to hundreds of disadvantaged, at-risk Knoxville area kids each year. All individual lessons teachers are volunteers. Kids come to the school because they can’t afford private lessons, instruments and music. The school was founded in 1998.
Special note from the Mobile Giving Foundation: No standard text messaging fees are incurred by mobile users to initiate and complete a text message donation. No portion of any amount donated is held by participating wireless providers. Donations are passed through at 100 percent back to the beneficiary charity. All mobile users can obtain a tax receipt for their donations made via text message by visiting: https://www.mobilegiving.org/tax-receipt/. Mobile users can donate up to $25-$100 per 30 consecutive days depending on carrier.