Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Southern Highland Music Foundation
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As: SHMF
Mailing Address: 629 Duggan Hill Road
City: Clayton
State: Georgia
Postal Code: 30525
Main Phone: (706) 490-0539
Main Fax:
Organization Website: www.Southernhighlandmusicfoundation.com
Employer ID Number: 46-3379954
Organization Tax Status: 501 (C) 3 Non Profit

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: March 26, 2025
Requested Amount: $8,000.00

Project Title: ‘Jammin on the Mountain’
Project Description:

The Southern Highland Music Foundation is dedicated to helping our region’s residents learn about and take pride in the unique heritage and culture of Georgia’s Southern Appalachian region.

Rabun County Georgia is a sparsely populated, rural area of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. It is noted for its beautiful mountain scenery, rivers, lakes and streams that attract thousands of tourists and seasonal visitors each year; but the county’s permanent resident population is small, about 17,000 people with a poverty rate of 13%. More than 50% of our school children rely upon subsidized food service at our public schools. SHMF works to help our school-age children (Middle School and High School), learn about and take pride in our region’s history and culture by providing no-cost and very low-cost music instruction (including free instruments if needed) in our public schools and also for our homeschooled children.

The project we request funding for is a unique, after school and summer “Jammin’ on the Mountain’ program that will be open to students ages 11-18. The goal is to provide music instruction on acoustic stringed instruments and also vocal training (solo and harmony). The program will have a special emphasis on ‘Peer Learning,’ a popular learning tool used at the Foxfire School in the last century to encourage students to work together in small groups to informally exchange music techniques and tips. In this way we will help new music students continue to learn over the summer months and also create new ‘string bands’ and performance ensembles to showcase our new musicians to our community throughout the year.

SHMF believes that children who are actively engaged in the rich traditions of their geographic area, especially the music and the arts, are more connected and better prepared to strengthen their communities for future generations.

Total Project Budget: $12,000.00

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Community Foundation Grants; Private Donations, Potential Support from The Georgia Music Foundation and the Georgia Council for the Arts

Project Duration: April 15, 2026 – October 15, 2026
Geographical Area Served: Rabun County, Georgia; Southern Appalachia
Age Group To Be Served: Middle School and High School students ages 11-18

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mr.
Contact First Name: Tom
Contact Last Name: Nixon
Contact Title: Chief Executive Officer
Contact Phone: (706) 490-0539
Contact Email: CEO@Southernhighlandmusicfoundation.co