Miami, FL (Top40 Charts/ VH1) - LG
Mobile Phones sponsored the VH1 Save The
Music Foundation's Gala 2010 last night, to celebrate the power of music and to support the restoration of public school music programs. Held at the world-renown Cipriani Wall Street, LG joined forces with VH1 Save The
Music to transform a night of spectacular entertainment into a fundraising success by donating an additional $50,000 to help raise a total of $100,000 for the VH1 Save The
Music Foundation. Hosted by Glee star and Broadway veteran, Cheyenne Jackson, the evening featured tributes to music legend
Julie Andrews, The ASCAP Foundation, long-time arts advocate
John Legend and seven time Grammy Award winner John Mayer.
Atlantic recording artist Jason Mraz stunned attendees at last night's Gala by announcing the $100,000 donation, which will benefit both The ASCAP Foundation and the VH1 Save The Music Foundation. The Grammy Award-winning tunesmith is partnering with LG Mobile Phones to make the contribution, which was unveiled as Mraz presented honors to The ASCAP Foundation, represented by legendary songwriter and Foundation President, Paul Williams.
In addition to special performances by VH1 Save The Music Foundation Alumni Ambassador Natasha Bedingfield and Good Charlotte frontmen Benji and Joel Madden, the evening also featured a 45th Anniversary tribute to Rodgers & Hammerstein's The Sound of Music. Contributing to this once-in-a-lifetime performance, Gala attendees were given the opportunity to vote for one of three popular film songs using the LG Optimus T with Google from T-Mobile and "TXT to Talk" Voice Actions for Android. By simply speaking directly into the handset, guests placed their votes for I Have Confidence, The Lonely Goatherd, or The Sound of Music and their entry was automatically sent via text message for tallying. In the end, a close race of favorites led to a winning medley performance of the three songs by Emmy and Tony award winner, Kristin Chenoweth. LG Optimus T, a simple to use, Android 2.2 touch screen smartphone, is now available at T-Mobile retail stores nationwide and online at www.t-mobile.com for $29.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and with a two year service agreement and qualifying data plan.
Beyond Kristin Chenoweth's tribute to The Sound of Music, the Gala continued to celebrate the 45th Anniversary of the most popular movie musical of all time as Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Rodgers & Hammerstein: An Imagem Company - presented an exclusive online auction to benefit the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, entitled "My Favorite Things." The auction features fantastic experiential packages, including meet & greets with new and old alumni Ambassadors and artists who support the Foundation's mission, an exclusive Cirque du Soleil ticket package to Wintuk and Viva Elvis, and a Broadway show package with tickets to Memphis and Jersey Boys along with a cast meet & greet. The online auction kicked off at: charitybuzz.com/myfavoritethings on November 3 and will continue through November 23. Guests at the Gala were also able to bid electronically during the cocktail reception.
An inspiring montage of stories describing how music has shaped and impacted the lives of various Gala attendees and event partners played throughout the evening on LCD screens within the venue provided by LG Electronics. Presenters at the event included Pete Wentz, Lauren Conrad, Common, Billy Burke and Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
"We are so grateful to everyone who has helped support the Foundation on this incredible evening," said Paul Cothran, Executive Director of the VH1 Save The Music Foundation. "Thank you to our honorees, performers, presenters, attendees and sponsors for helping us continue our mission to ensure that no child be deprived of the opportunity to receive a complete education that includes music."
Demonstrating the impact of the Foundation's work, a group of current and alumni students from the VH1 Save The Music Foundation's first grant recipient school, P.S. 58/The Carroll School also performed, leaving the star-studded audience in awe. Joining LG Mobile Phones, the evening's other sponsors included Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Anheuser-Busch, GREY GOOSE Vodka, HP, JetBlue Airways, and was supported by DJ Skribble, Skam Artist Entertainment, The James New York Hotel, Mr. Boddington's Studio, Nanette Lepore, John Varvatos Enterprises Inc. and Yak Pak.
Julie Andrews, John Legend, John Mayer and The ASCAP Foundation joined an esteemed group of past honorees that include Former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Grammy award-winning superstar, Mariah Carey, NAMM: The International Music Products Association, and Founder and Vice Chairman of the VH1 Save The Music Foundation John Sykes.
Hosted by VH1 Save The Music Young Benefactors, the official event after party was held at BLT Bar & Grill in the newly opened W New York - Downtown. All proceeds from the event and after party were donated to the VH1 Save the Music Foundation. For more information please visit: www.vh1savethemusic.com.
