NAMM Congratulates Little Kids Rock on Launch of New Expanded Program with The Dr. Phil Foundation

| December 17, 2009

NAMM Foundation-funded organization, Little Kids Rock, recently received a $500,000 donation from The Dr. Phil Foundation and launched Little Kids Rock Across America, a new expanded program designed to restore, revitalize and enhance musical programs in schools in 10 cities across the country. The program brings music education to schoolchildren from grades K through 12 in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, Atlanta, Washington D.C., Tampa, and two additional cities to be named by the end of 2009.

Joining Dr. Phil McGraw for the annoucement made on the Dr. Phil show were some of rock's top musicians, including Mike Einziger (Incubus), Zachary Merrick (All Time Low) and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers). Jordan McGraw, musician, composer and youngest son of Dr. Phil and Robin McGraw, also performed with a group of schoolchildren who are part of Little Kids Rock.

The Foundation is a McGraw family mission, and Jordan, who has written theme music for Dr. Phil, will act as the Foundation's ambassador to Little Kids Rock Across America.

"Little Kids Rock approached the Dr. Phil Foundation in search of a meaningful way to put music into the lives of children who need it. With the help of this great organization, the Foundation has created a program designed to expand what they have been doing so effectively, one guitar, one school district and one volunteer teacher at a time," Dr. Phil McGraw stated. "I'm passionate about music, and I have often said that when kids reach a certain age, they need to belong to something. I would much rather they choose a band or a choir than a gang. I am so proud that with this Foundation program Little Kids Rock Across America, we will be able to give kids a real opportunity, and the right outlet for their passion - and the gangs won't win by default." Dr. Phil added: "David Wish had a dream, and he made it real. I am proud that with his help, Little Kids Rock Across America will be teaching kids and their mentors what the power of music can really do to change who they are."

"Dr. Phil's passion and vision dovetails perfectly with our history of bringing music to children," David Wish, CEO and founder of Little Kids Rock, said. "This is an extraordinary opportunity to partner and make a real difference in the lives of thousands of kids. With the creation of Little Kids Rock Across America, we will be training more teacher volunteers and reaching more kids in more classrooms who would never have had opportunity to play music in an economy where arts programs are evaporating."

In addition to the NAMM Foundation, Fender, the world's leading guitar manufacturer, is a major corporate sponsor of Little Kids Rock and has donated generously to the program.