Bellevue, WA, May 5, 2017– Music Aid Northwest (MAN), along with our partners, Washington Music
Educators Association (WMEA), are thrilled to announce that Music Matters grants exceeding $125,000
will be awarded to 30 different schools across the state.

“The funds provided by Music Matters will help these schools purchase instruments, sheet music, music
stands, and, in some instances, save the entire school music program from elimination.
“Music is a vital part of our public-school curriculum and we’re grateful to all those
who contribute by buying a license plate or donating through our site.”
—Dr. Bob Tomberg
President, Music Aid Northwest

Funding for the grants came from proceeds from the sales of Music Matters specialty license plate
program as well as from ticket sales and individual donations from Music Aid Northwest’s annual Play It
Forward gala.

This year’s grant recipients include: Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, Mossyrock Jr. & Sr. High
School, Nooksack Valley School District, North Mason High School, North Whidbey Middle School, Oak
Harbor Elementary School, Oak Harbor High School, Oak Harbor Intermediate School, Olympic View
Elementary School, Onalaska Middle School, Rainier High School, Rochester Middle School, Seattle
Collaborative Orchestra, Seattle World School, Selah High School, Showalter MS/Foster High School,
Silverdale Elementary School, Skyline Elementary School, Soap Lake Elementary School, South Bend School District, Toledo High School, Toledo Middle School, Toutle Lake Jr/Sr High School, Wapato High School, and Zillah Intermediate School. Congratulations to all the recipients!

Play It Forward 7 Comes Up Big
On March 25, Music Aid Northwest held its annual gala—Play It Forward—at the Triple Door, in Seattle,
Washington. Attendees were treated to performances by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members Steve
Fossen and Michael Derosier (founding members of Heart), as well as a full set from White, featuring
Alan White, drummer for YES and a member of the Hall of Fame. Additional performances by Pacific
Drive, Shelley and the Curves, and featured student performers, Exapsos rounded out an amazing night
of music.
Through ticket sales, raffles and donations made by gala attendees, we raised over $90,000 during the
evening; a number that may exceed $100,000 with matching corporate donations still being tallied.