MusiCounts Leadership Circle

Toronto, ON - MusiCounts, Canada's music education charity associated with The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), today announced the launch of the MusiCounts Leadership Circle, a major gifts initiative to raise funds for its long-running Band Aid Program. Leading the charge are Stephen Stohn (former Chair of Board of CARAS, The JUNO Awards and MusiCounts) and Linda Schuyler (famed Canadian TV producer - Degrassi, Instant Star) who pledged up to $500,000 over the next five years in matching funds for gifts of $10,000 or more. The MusiCounts Leadership Circle serves to inspire music education supporters to help ensure the future of MusiCounts Band Aid Program, which provides musical instruments and equipment to school music programs in need across the country.
 
Initially announced at the JUNO Awards 2016 Chairman's Reception on April 1, 2016, the pledge of $500,000 in matching funds from Stohn and Schuyler immediately sparked substantial donations from Canadian celebrities and industry leaders alike. At the reception, Mark and Suzanne Cohon, George Cohon, W. Brett Wilson, Bob and Jan Ezrin and Deane Cameron and Christina Martinez Cameron came forward as the next five founding donors with gifts of $10,000 each to be matched by Stohn and Schuyler. Canadian singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes recently joined the MusiCounts Leadership Circle, donating his $10,000 Walk of Fame prize to the initiative.
 
"Over two decades on various committees, and the Board, and as Chair of MusiCounts, I've seen first-hand the power of music education for children and youth, especially through the Band Aid Program. The charity has long since held a special place in my heart.  Linda and I have made this pledge-we have issued this matching challenge-to inspire others to become part of the MusiCounts mission to make music programs accessible to all Canadian children," said Stephen Stohn.
 
"Across the country today many children are at risk of reaching adulthood without knowing the joy of music. In 2015 MusiCounts was only able to address the needs of 1 in 4 music programs that applied for musical instruments. With Stephen and Linda's extraordinary generosity, and the substantial support they have already inspired among others, MusiCounts is working to close this gap and create a brighter future for music education in Canada," said Allan Reid, President & CEO, CARAS/The JUNO Awards & MusiCounts.

MusiCounts is also launching a Planned Giving program for those who wish to contribute as part of their Estate planning.
 
For more information on the MusiCounts Leadership Circle or on Planned Giving, please contact Marie Desmarteau, Manager of Major and Annual Gifts at 647.494.4285 or  
[email protected]