The VH1 Save The Music Foundation Celebrates 10 Years of Success and Raises More Than $2 Million

The VH1 Save The Music Foundation Celebrates 10 Years of Success and Raises More Than $2 Million

The VH1 Save The Music Foundation 10th Anniversary Gala Presented by LG Honored Former President Bill Clinton, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, John Sykes and NAMM: The International Music Products Association

NEW YORK, Sept. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, September 20, the VH1 Save The Music Foundation 10th Anniversary Gala Presented By LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A., Inc. (LG Mobile Phones) celebrated ten years of successfully restoring music education programs in public schools across the country. The event, hosted by Maria Menounos, featured performances by John Mayer, Jon Bon Jovi, Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, Miri Ben-Ari and a 61-piece student orchestra made up of students from throughout the United States from VH1 Save The Music grant recipient schools. During the celebration, The Foundation paid tribute to Former President Bill Clinton, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Mariah Carey, John Sykes, founder of the VH1 Save The Music Foundation and NAMM: The International Music Products Association for their unyielding support and dedication to The Foundation's mission.

Conan O'Brien kicked-off the event by humoring guests with an opening speech on the importance of music education during which the late-night star showcased his own musical talents, or lack thereof. Later in the program, Tim Gunn of Project Runway emceed a live auction, which featured one-of-a-kind items and experiences from VH1 Save The Music partners and raised over $200,000. Items in the gala auction included Gibson guitars signed by John Mayer, Tom Petty, Metallica, Neil Young, Paul McCartney and Keith Richards.

"This was truly an amazing night for the VH1 Save The Music Foundation as we marked our 10th anniversary. In celebrating those students that have excelled because of music education we also know that there are still thousands of schools that lack music education and the unique benefits that it provides," said Paul Cothran, Executive Director of The VH1 Save The Music Foundation. "The next 10 years will bring new challenges, however we commit ourselves to donate one hundred million dollars worth of new musical instruments to ensure an even greater number of students receive a comprehensive music education."

The gala also featured a surprise duet of Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive" by Jon Bon Jovi and John Mayer, as well as a stellar finale featuring Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, the VH1 Save The Music Foundation's 61-piece student orchestra and the PG and Love choir. Speeches given by the night's honorees truly drove home the importance of music education and what it has done for people like former President Bill Clinton.

"I don't think I'd have been president if I didn't have the gift of school music when I was a boy," Former President Bill Clinton said. "We cannot let music disappear from our schools. You don't know if there's a Quincy Jones in school today if there is no piano, no saxophone - if music is not there."

Celebrity guests and supporters that attended the gala included Russell Simmons, LA Reid, Vanessa Carlton, James Blunt, Mya, Denise Rich, Katie Lee Joel, Quincy Jones, Jane Rosenthal, Chairman and CEO of US Recorded Music for Warner Music Lyor Cohen, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, NYC Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Speaker Christine Quinn, The Late Show's Paul Shaffer, and Mary Alice Stephenson, co-host of VH1's America's Most Smartest Model.

About VH1 Save The Music Foundation

Since 1997, the VH1 Save The Music Foundation has successfully restored and sustained instrumental music programs in 1,500 public schools in more than 100 cities across the country, including Memphis, Houston, Chicago, New York, Denver, Baltimore and Milwaukee. Over the past ten years, various artists and celebrities have shown their devotion to the VH1 Save The Music Foundation by partnering with the organization as they've reached out to struggling school districts across the country. Celebrities including Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Sting, Billy Joel, Kiefer Sutherland, John Legend, Rob Thomas, Alicia Keys, Jewel and many more have donated their time and efforts to the organization in attempts to raise awareness about the importance of music in a child's education.

To date, The Foundation has provided more than $40 million in new musical instruments, affecting the lives of more than 1 million children. For more information on the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, please visit http://www.vh1.com/partners/save_the_music/.

About LG Electronics, Inc.

LG Electronics, Inc. is the global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications, employing more than 72,000 people working in over 120 operations including 80 subsidiaries around the world. Comprised of four business units: Mobile Communications, Digital Appliance, Digital Display and Digital Media with global sales at USD 34.7 billion (consolidated USD 43.4 billion) as of 2005, LG Electronics is the world's leading provider of CDMA handsets, residential air conditioners, plasma panels, optical storage products, DVD players and home theatre system. For more information, please visit www.lge.com.

About LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company

LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company is the world's leading provider of UMTS (WCDMA), CDMA and GSM handsets, which have been designed to improve the value of customer life. With a total range of wired and wireless solutions, the company is rapidly establishing a global presence and growing its international market share in 3G handsets. For more information please visit www.lgusa.com.

   CONTACT:    Elizabeth Rosenthal   Susan Blond, Inc.   Phone: (212) 333-7728 x105   erosenthal@susanblondinc.com    Maura Wozniak   VH1   Phone: (212) 846-7325  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: VH1

CONTACT: Elizabeth Rosenthal of Susan Blond, Inc.,
+1-212-333-7728 Ext. 105, erosenthal@susanblondinc.com; or Maura Wozniak of
VH1, +1-212-846-7325

Web site: http://www.vh1.com/
http://www.vh1.com/partners/save_the_music
http://www.lge.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment