Mayor Richard J. Berry and First Lady Maria Berry Honor NMJW

New Mexico Jazz Workshop

Acknowledged by Mayor Richard J. Berry

and First Lady Maria Berry

New Mexico Jazz Workshop to be beneficiary of 2011 Mayor and First Lady Berry Gala

Albuquerque-- New Mexico Jazz Workshop has been named one of the five charities designated as a beneficiary of the 25^th Anniversary Mayor and First Lady’s Charity Gala. Albuquerque’s First Couple will host an evening that includes an auction, live music and fine dining. The black tie event will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2011 from 6pm to 11pm at the Albuquerque Convention Center. For more information about the Gala, please visit www.mayorscharitygala.com or via email: charitygala@cabq.gov or by phone: 505-768-3045.

“We were thrilled to receive the news,” says Vicki Dugger, Assistant Director of the New Mexico Jazz Workshop. “We knew that there would be a lot of great organizations submitting proposals. We’re grateful to have been selected.”

This year, funds raised at the Gala will support five worthy organizations, including The New Mexico Jazz Workshop’s Empowerment Through Music program-- NMJW’s arts and social services programming. “Empowerment Through Music is making a difference in the lives of low-income, at-risk and incarcerated youth,” says Dugger. “Through this program, youth increase their musical and technological understanding in order to better navigate their futures.” Dugger explains that Empowerment Through Music also helps stem what is known as, “summer slide;” the loss of educational gains over the summer break. Dugger adds that, “Children without healthy stimulation and activities lose an average of 25% of what they learned over the school year, which becomes cumulative over time.”

Funds raised at the Gala will allow New Mexico Jazz Workshop to increase therapeutic instruction at the Bernalillo County Juvenile Detention Center and expand the South Valley Band Project, which provides music mentoring for at-risk middle school students. “We are so grateful for the ability to expand our programs that help kids creatively cope with the world around them.” Dugger says.

For more information about Empowerment Through Music, please contact Debra Orlofsky, Empowerment Through Music Coordinator at The New Mexico Jazz Workshop at 505-255-9798 or debo@nmjazz.org.

Empowerment Through Music is sponsored by: Sennheiser, Target, Bernalillo County, Wells Fargo, Grandmas Music and Sound, United Way of Central New Mexico and Cardinal Health.