Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Birthplace of Country Music
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 416 State Street, Suite A
City: Bristol
State: TN
Postal Code: 37620
Main Phone: 4235731927
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://birthplaceofcountrymusic.org/
Employer ID Number: 62-1580405
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3) Non-Profit

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3/25/24
Requested Amount: $10,000

Project Title: Pick Along! Summer Camps
Project Description:

One of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum’s core educational programs is our yearly “Pick Along! Summer Camp” program. The mission of this camp is to foster traditional music education for youth. The camp offers a unique educational experience and draws students from the local region and beyond. Campers primarily learn banjo, acoustic guitar, or fiddle and are taught by experienced musicians, teachers, and special instructors. We hope to add a ukulele program and were recently awarded funding to purchase ukuleles, but operating the full program is dependent on additional funding to support a ukulele instructor.

Camps take place inside the Birthplace of Country Music Museum which helps immerse students in the history of traditional music. The museum describes the roots and branches of old-time, country, and bluegrass music in-depth. We offer two summer camp sessions for youth musicians aged 8-16: a beginner level camp and an intermediate level camp. The beginner camps are designed for everyone, and no musical experience is necessary to attend them. The intermediate camps are designed for campers who have either attended camp before or who already play music.

Our camps provide an enduring relationship with music for years after the conclusion of the program. We have seen many campers continue their musical education by taking private lessons, participating in our monthly jam sessions, and performing on stage. We have even had previous campers return as primary instructors and camp counselors to assist with activities and develop leadership skills.

The total costs of the Pick Along! Summer Camp program for two camp weeks averages $11,000. Adding a ukulele camp would increase the total camp budget to $15,500. Camp fee revenues from registrations cover just over one-third of our expenses (approx. $5,000). Each year BCM works to begin securing grant funding through Spring.

Total Project Budget: $15,500

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Expected camp revenue: ~$5,000; Classics for Kids Foundation: Awarded $540 for ukuleles; First Horizon Foundation: $2,500, pending, previously denied; Wayne Henderson Music Scholarships and Grants: $1,000, pending, previously awarded; ALDI Community Grant Program: $500, pending, previously denied.

Project Duration: 2-3 weeks
Geographical Area Served: Bristol, TN/VA and surrounding counties.
Age Group To Be Served: 8-16

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mr.
Contact First Name: TJ
Contact Last Name: Wiley
Contact Title: Grants Coordinator
Contact Phone: 423-758-7709
Contact Email: twiley@birthplaceofcountrymusic.org