As we count our blessings and cherish our families during this holiday season, we want to share with you a very special opportunity to help others who are less fortunate do so as well.
INTERNATIONAL MONTESSORI ACADEMY
International Montessori Academy is helping families in distressed Los Angeles neighborhoods for the third year in a row.
The Candelas Music and Arts Foundation provides scholarships for free guitar and music theory lessons to underprivileged young people…if and only if…the recipient agrees to practice regularly, maintain good grades and in-school citizenship, support their family at home and avoid drugs, gangs and other destructive influences often prevalent in their communities.
What’s more, the foundation’s director also engages the parents (or often single parent) of the recipient to ensure that he or she has the necessary support and encouragement in the home.
As music appreciation constitutes an important part of a Montessori program and Candelas’ wholistic approach integrates it into a positive lifestyle we are eager to help Candelas offer more scholarships
As we have done in the past, IMA will match every donation made by our school’s families with one of our own – dollar for dollar -- in order to make these opportunities available to more families.
“Candelas represents a safe space for our students, whose lives and neighborhoods often offer precious few such places,” explains foundation director Tomas Delgado. Scholarship recipients include a seven-year-old girl whose father works at a nearby carwash – BOTH receive lessons so they can study together! Also a 12-year-old boy who initially declined a scholarship because his family was living in their car with no place to keep a guitar. Upon moving to a nearby hotel for the homeless, he returned to Candelas and has been studying there ever since.
IMA is excited to help Candelas in their inspiring efforts to make music part of a positive life perspective for their scholarship students. Particularly during the holidays, we find it profoundly gratifying to be able to lift the spirits and improve the lives of these families. We hope you do, too.
How to help.
The Candelas Music and Arts Foundation is registered as a 501-(c)3 non-profit so your gift in any amount is tax deductible.
You can make a donation using your credit card or direct deposit at
candelasfoundation.org Or…
You can leave a check made out to Candelas Foundation in the box on our sign-in table and we will deliver it to them for you! (This method is easier and incurs no administrative fee.)
Regardless of how you choose to donate, please BE ABSOLUTELY SURE to indicate that you are an IMA family so that we are aware of the contribution and can match it!
On behalf of the Candelas Foundation, thank you for helping us brighten the lives of these families with the extraordinary gift of music.
Happy Holidays.