String Project Supports Midwest Food Bank

Illinois State University String Project students are helping to raise money and collect non-perishable food items for the Midwest Food Bank in Bloomington.  The fundraising effort is part of the String Project Practice-a-thon 2011, held April 8-15.

Elementary and middle school string players participating in the Practice-a-thon will solicit monetary sponsorships for every minute they practice their instruments during that week. The students will also donate non-perishable food items that will be collected at the String Project spring concert on Sunday, May 1, at 3 p.m. in Illinois State's Center for the Performing Arts Concert Hall.  Each year, String Project students choose a different charitable organization to support through Practice-a-thon donations. 

Established in 2001 by the School of Music and the American String Teachers Association, Illinois State's String Project is a community music program for children studying stringed instruments. The program offers low-cost instruction on violin, viola, cello and bass to students from 3rd through 8th grades. It is an effort to reach students who have no access to a public school string program.