MUSICARES Announces Anniversary Campaign With Matching Challenge

MusiCares® has announced its 20th Anniversary Campaign with a $5 million matching gift from the ELMA Music Foundation and a significant gift from Olivia Harrison and the Material World Foundation in memory of George Harrison. The overall fundraising goal of the campaign is $15 million.

MusiCares ensures that music people have a place to turn in times of financial, medical and personal need by providing programs and services including emergency financial assistance, educational workshops, and flu shots, hearing tests, and medical/dental screenings. Additionally, the MusiCares MAP FundSM allows access to addiction recovery treatment and sober living resources for members of the music community regardless of their financial circumstances, and Safe Harbor Rooms, weekly addiction support groups, and the MusiCares Sober Touring Network provide ongoing recovery support. In its first 20 years, MusiCares has served 65,000 clients, awarded 18,000 grants and provided $24 million in funding to members of the music community,

"The MusiCares 20th Anniversary Campaign is an opportunity to create a legacy for our future and long-term resources for the music people we serve," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy® and MusiCares. "We thank all of our leadership donors for their generosity, and we want to highlight the ELMA Music Foundation and Olivia Harrison and the Material World Foundation for their extraordinary gifts that represent both sides of the music world - the industry professional and the artist."

"It is a privilege to honor George with a gift to MusiCares' 20th Anniversary Campaign. Music was his life as it is for all fellow musicians. They and their families deserve the support of those in a position to assist during difficult times," said Harrison. "MusiCares has brought together a great community of friends bonded by music and compassion. George would appreciate having this gift made in his name."

The Campaign Cabinet, co-chaired by noted entertainment attorney and MusiCares' Board Chair Emeritus John Branca and legendary record company executive Mo Ostin, has raised over $11.1 million to date from numerous donors, including the Academy of Country Music, the Herb Alpert Foundation, the Lynn and Les Bider Family Foundation, Chris Blackwell, Pat Boone, the John Branca family, Cirque du Soleil, John Densmore, the ELMA Music Foundation, the David Foster Foundation, Barry Gibb, the Gibson Foundation, Joel Katz, Tim Leiweke, Jim Long, the Material World Foundation, Jerry Moss, MTV Networks, Chuck Ortner, the Ostin Family Foundation, Neil Portnow, Rhino Records, Bill Silva, David Sonenberg, the Streisand Foundation, Rod Temperton and Barry Weiss.

"The music world is a remarkably diverse gathering of people - from those who stand in the spotlight, to people who work behind the scenes - all of whom are equally important to the music ecosystem," said Branca. "And MusiCares has been providing help to this entire community for many years."

"The MusiCares 20th Anniversary Campaign is designed to set an example of 'giving back' from the spectrum of individuals who have benefitted from working in an industry that rewards creative excellence," added Ostin.

Established in 1989 by The Recording Academy, MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares' services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, and each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. MusiCares also focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community. For more information, please visit www.musicares.org.

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards - the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music - The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, join the organization's social networks on Facebook (www.facebook.com/thegrammys), MySpace (www.myspace.com/thegrammys), Twitter (www.twitter.com/thegrammys), and YouTube (www.youtube.com/thegrammys).

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