Playing For Change Foundation Presents PFC Day on September 15

The non-profit Playing For Change Foundation's annual PFC Day on September 15 promises to be its biggest celebration of global talent to date. Venues in the U.K.'s Cannock, plus Regina, Canada, and Santa Fe, Argentina, as well as Brazil's Rio De Janeiro, are a few of the newest locales that already include Brazil's São Paulo and Curitiba, Ibiza, Spain, Diamante, Argentina, Los Angeles, California and Mexico City, Mexico. The roster recently was updated with more U.S. participants including New Orleans' famed Nola Brewery with confirmed performers including Grammy Award-winning blues legend Vasti Jackson, Tin Men featuring Washboard Chaz and Tom McDermott, and Six Springs Tavern in Richardson Texas where local bands will be featured from 1 PM to 1 AM. In addition to these marquis events, there will be smaller, grass roots events taking place supporting the Foundation's efforts.

Proceeds from PFC Day's simultaneous musical events will fund PFCF's music programs around the world.. Expanding beyond 60 countries with over 400 worldwide events, these PFC Day's festivals will present some of each participating country's best evolving talent to a global audience. With awareness of the festivals growing since its 2011 launch, an expanding audience of both venue attendees and online viewership, its multiple platforms collectively expected to reach over one hundred thousand.

As in past years, simultaneous musical events will occur worldwide, with proceeds benefiting music and arts education programs in 11 countries. Each week more than 2,000 young people attend free classes in dance, vocals, instrument instruction, languages and musical theory, all taught by qualified, local teachers. Playing For Change Foundation's fifteen music schools and programs are located in Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Ghana, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Rwanda, South Africa and Thailand. The PFC Foundation also works with partners to help meet basic needs in these communities, which are home to some of the world's most economically vulnerable children. This work includes providing primary education, and humanitarian aid such as clean water, solar power, medicine, books, supplies, tools, and training.

To date, the lives of more than 20,000 children and community members have been improved through music education and development efforts of the Playing For Change Foundation and educational performances through the Playing for Change musicians. The PFC Foundation's recently-launched pilot program, Sister Schools For Change (SSFC), is connecting youth in the United States with our international students. By introducing music and arts education into their lives, PFCF aims to resolve conflict, raise self-esteem, advance in the development of the whole child, as well as enhance and empower the communities in which it serves.

Says PFCF's co-founder Whitney Kroenke, "It's gratifying to see people around the world uniting, creating events so that the lives of so many at-risk children around the globe are improved. Everyone is welcome to create their own events and to join us on PFC Day September 15th to help us bring the magic of music and arts into the lives of so many deserving young people."

Playing For Change Day was launched in 2011, with a mission to "unite a global community through the power of music to effect positive social change." There have been over 330 events in 52 countries, with those numbers growing. Past U.S. participation and creative contributions have come through PFC-related events ranging from small drum circles in rural areas to the 'We Are One' concert featuring superstar acts such as The Doobie Brothers, Little Feat, and Nahko (of Nahko & Medicine For The People), a Sarah Bareilles' StageIt concert, and a Cali Love tribute to Dr. Dre where Dre joined the band on stage. A Whiskey A Go Go concert spotlighted performances by Keb' Mo', The Doors' John Densmore, Papa Fish, Rocky Dawuni, Mohammed Alidu, and the PFC Band, among many others.

Also, the Playing For Change Foundation is proud to partner with Audio-Technica and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for this year's festivities.

In addition, New York City-based Motéma Music has sponsored an associated CD release with the PFC Band as well as eclectic, award-winning luminaries including The Doobie Brothers, Buddy Guy, Dr. John, Jack Johnson and Warren Haynes, entitled Listen to the Music, available now. All profits go to the Playing For Change Foundation. The 'Songs Around the World' video series for each song on the album is released monthly, culminating on #PFCDay2018 on Saturday, September 15.

ABOUT PLAYING FOR CHANGE FOUNDATION

The Playing For Change Foundation, established in 2007, provides music education in areas that are culturally rich yet economically challenged. Children in countries around the world (see below), from Africa to Latin America to Southeast Asia, attend free classes in music, dance and languages, taught by qualified local music teachers and led by regional administrators. Students learn about their own cultural traditions while employing technology to connect and share their experiences with others around the world.

Participate today: www.playingforchangeday.org/participate

Donate today: www.playingforchangeday.org/

- Imvula Music Program - Gugulethu, South Africa

- Bizung Music and Dance School - Tamale, Ghana

- Udayapur Nepal Music Program - Udayapur, Nepal

- Ecole de Musique de Kirina - Kirina, Mali

- Tine Village Mother's Society - Tintale, Nepal

- Star School Music Program - Kigali, Rwanda

- Mitrata Nepal Village Music Program - Kathmandu, Nepal

- Musica Music Program - Kathmandu, Nepal

- Khlong Toey Music Program - Bangkock, Thailand

- Cajuru Music Program - Curitiba, Brazil

- Mirpur Music Program - Dhaka, Bangladesh

ABOUT PLAYING FOR CHANGE DAY

In 2011, Playing For Change (PFC) Day was created to promote unity through music from the local level to the global community. Ranging from aspiring musicians to seasoned professionals as well as both young and old, performers from all over the world shared their talents at venues and online to support the message that music unites and promotes meaningful change. Every year since its 2011 debut, synchronized PFC DAY events have expanded to over 60 countries across six continents. Past PFC Day events have occurred at renowned venues such as Whiskey A Go Go, the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, and high-profile participants have included Dr. Dre, The Doobie Brothers, Little Feat, Sarah Bareilles, Salvador Santana, and Keb' Mo'. Proceeds from PFC concerts and related events are used to provide students in PFC schools located in 11 countries with musical instruments and education. Attendance at this year's events are expected to increase with Brazil, expecting crowds exceeding 7,000, and Ibiza, Spain, bringing together more than 4,500 supporters. http://www.pfcday.org/

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