MusiCares MAP Fund Benefits Women In Recovery 5/7

The sixth annual MusiCares® MAP Fund® benefit concert will celebrate Women In Recovery and salute former first lady Betty Ford and the Betty Ford Center at Club Nokia in Los Angeles on Friday, May 7. The evening will pay tribute to Mrs. Ford, a woman who inspired so many through her courage and strength by publicly revealing her personal struggles with addiction, and her incredible work in establishing the Betty Ford Center. Susan Ford Bales will accept the MusiCares MAP Fund award on behalf of her mother. All proceeds will benefit the MusiCares MAP Fund (www.musicares.com), which provides members of the music community access to addiction recovery treatment and sober living resources. Over the past four years, the MusiCares MAP Fund has provided more than $3.1 million for addiction recovery treatment and sober living care for close to 1,000 clients. In addition, the MusiCares MAP Fund offers free aftercare group weekly meetings across the country.

The evening will feature special performances by Charlotte Caffey and Kathy Valentine (the Go Go's) with Leah Randi (former bassist for Pink), Patty Schemel (former drummer for Hole) and vocalist Annabella Lwin (Bow Wow Wow); Beth Hart with GRAMMY® -winning guitarist Slash (Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver); Exene (X); Corey Parks (Nashville Pussy) with GRAMMY-winning artist Lemmy Kilmister (Motörhead) and GRAMMY-winning drummer Matt Sorum (Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver); and Linda Perry (4 Non Blondes) with Paul Ill (Alicia Keys, Courtney Love, Tina Turner), John Perry (Courtney Love, Linda Perry), Kellii Scott (Failure, Year Long Disaster), and Peter Thorn (Chris Cornell, Don Henley). Samantha Ronson will DJ live during dinner in memory of the late DJ AM, who DJed for the event last year. Additional artists will be announced shortly.

The evening's focus on women in recovery is prompted in part by recent data - from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Transportation respectively - that indicates that only 8 percent of women who have a problem with addiction seek help, and the number of women abusing alcohol, as indicated by related traffic arrests, has risen 28 percent over the past decade. Women facing addiction often encounter challenges that may be barriers to treatment: a woman may want to avoid the stigma associated with drug addiction and rehab and try to 'treat herself' without help, or she may fear losing her children, losing her job, going to jail or other repercussions. In addition, women may need assistance with childcare or medical attention if they are pregnant that many drug rehabilitation centers may not offer. As a result, MusiCares is focusing attention on the issue through this event and other activities, including panel discussions.

"When we looked at the troubling statistics about women and addiction and found that women, in general, are less likely to get the treatment they need, we recognized that our annual MusiCares MAP Fund benefit would be an ideal opportunity to draw attention to this important issue," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy® and MusiCares. "Not only will this evening help generate critical resources for members of the music community who are struggling with addiction, but by honoring Betty Ford and her enduring commitment to recovery, we hope to shed light on the obstacles to treatment that women continue to encounter and the vital paths to recovery."

"In accepting this award you honor not only me, but all women and families who have taken a step toward recovery," said Mrs. Ford. "I am proud of the women who have struggled with the disease of addiction, and have the courage and determination to help not only themselves but their families." Her daughter and Betty Ford Center Chair, Susan Ford Bales, notes, "I know my mother is honored and even humbled by this award. I hope that it serves as motivation and a beacon of hope for other women and families to follow her example."

This special dinner and concert offers Living Room Sets that seat 10 for $12,500, Individual Floor Seats for $1,250 per person, and VIP Balcony Seats for $150. Contact Wynnie Wynn at 310.392.3777 or wynniew@grammy.com for tickets and information. General admission balcony tickets are available for $35 each through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com. Out of respect for the clients the MusiCares MAP Fund serves, the event will be alcohol-free.

The honorary chair of this year's MusiCares MAP Fund benefit is multi-GRAMMY®-winning artist Chaka Khan. Event chairs include: Barbara Bach, Margaret Cho, multi-GRAMMY-winning artist Natalie Cole, Liza Minnelli, Kelly Osbourne, Sharon Osbourne, MusiCares Board member Mary Pattiz, Nicole Richie, Grace Slick, and Marjorie Walsh. This event is made possible with the generous support of Goldenvoice, Jackson Limousine Service, Swing House, and Ticketmaster.

"I am proud to serve as the honorary chair of the sixth annual MusiCares MAP Fund benefit, and support this organization that has given hope and help to so many music people struggling with addiction," said Chaka Khan. "It is especially meaningful to me as an artist and a sober woman to be part of an event that is focusing attention on the issue of women and addiction. For far too long, this problem has remained under the public radar and events like this will help bring this issue into the light and will literally help save lives."

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. The MusiCares MAP Fund 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.

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.com.

As a result of acquiring MAP in September 2004, MusiCares developed the MusiCares MAP Fund as a pool of resources set aside specifically to address addiction recovery and sober living needs. Named for the Musicians' Assistance Program, the MusiCares MAP Fund represents the joint goal of MAP and MusiCares to provide members of the music community access to addiction recovery treatment regardless of their financial circumstances.

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