Member News

Rochester Education Foundation (REF) and M&T Bank are once again partnering during the Rochester International Jazz Festival to collect musical instruments for local students.

Now in its 17^th year, the REF-M&T Jazz Fest partnership invites the community to help address the ongoing need for music education resources in local schools. Through REF’s year-round Music & Arts for All program, more than 4,200 instruments have been collected, refurbished and placed in the hands of students in the Rochester City School District – helping expand access to music education.

As the presenting sponsor of the Jazz Festival, M&T Bank will donate its booth space on Gibbs Street, known as “Jazz Street,” to REF to support the Music & Arts for All program. Volunteers from both organizations will be on-site each evening from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., now through Saturday, June 27, accepting instrument donations and sharing ways the community can get involved both during the festival and beyond.

Community members are encouraged to bring gently used string, brass, woodwind and percussion instruments, as well as music supplies, directly to the booth during the festival.

“Access to music education can open doors for students in meaningful ways,” said Steve Epping, M&T Bank Rochester Regional President. “If you have an instrument to give, we encourage you to consider donating – it’s a simple way to help a student discover something that can stay with them for a lifetime.”

For those unable to attend, REF accepts donations year-round at its office located at 225 W. Broad Street, Suite B, on the first Wednesday of each month.

“Every donation helps ensure more students have the opportunity to learn, create and participate in music and the arts,” said Amy Stein, Rochester Education Foundation Executive Director. “The generosity of this community continues to make a lasting impact.”

For more information on REF’s Music & Arts for All program, visit rochestereducation.org/music.