WHERE WE ARE

Red Bank is home to a historic music scene, known for producing Count Basie and others. But many local families today face challenges. Red Bank has a large population of immigrants and more than 20 percent of the city's children live below the poverty line.

Play It Forward teaches free six-week courses in piano and vocals for underserved middle school children in Red Bank, taught by music majors at Red Bank Regional High School's Visual & Performing Arts Academy. 

The courses are held at the historic Red Bank Woman's Club and made possible through the support of Project Write Now, an outreach program for underserved youth, and music instructor Mimi Cross.

Asbury Park is famous as the home of the New Jersey music scene. The city has produced legends like Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi.  But Asbury Park is also home to many families unable to afford music education. Nearly half of the city's children live below the poverty line.

Play It Forward helps fund scholarships for underserved children in Asbury Park to attend classes at the city's renowned 600-student music school, the Lakehouse Music Academy. 

Play It Forward also provides support for the afterschool music program at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School in Asbury Park, which provides music instruction to 180 students primarily from immigrant families.

Livingstone, Zambia is famous as the home of the world's largest waterfall, Victoria Falls. But while the region draws more than one million tourists a year, most local families only earn a few dollars a day. 

Play It Forward funds the music program at the Tongabezi Trust School, a private village school in Livingstone, covering costs for instruments and an instructor for children from pre-school through the ninth grade. 

In addition, this summer Play It Forward will teach in-person courses in piano, guitar, singing, and songwriting and arrange a concert performance by the students.