Bid on exclusive celebrity-signed Gibson and Epiphone guitars at the GRAMMY Charity Holiday Auction now through December 6. Auction proceeds benefit MusiCares and the GRAMMY Foundation. To visit the auction, go to www.ebay.com/grammy.
Gibson Guitar Corp. / Gibson Foundation Recognized for Exceptional Support of the Arts
Gibson Guitar Corp., through the philanthropic efforts of the Gibson Foundation, was named to THE BCA TEN: Best Companies Supporting the Arts in America, sponsored by the Business Committee for the Arts, Inc. (BCA) and FORBES Magazine.
The announcement of THE BCA TEN was made during a black-tie gala attended by business and arts leaders from across the United States held at the New-York Historical Society, New York, New York Tuesday, Oct. 16. The other companies recognized were: The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL; The Boldt Company, Appleton, WI; Deutsche Bank, New York, NY; Masco Corporation, Taylor, MI; McQuiddy Publishing, Nashville, TN; QUALCOMM Incorporated, San Diego, CA; Shell Exploration & Production Company, Houston, TX; Shugoll Research, Bethesda, MD; and The Travelers Companies, Inc., St. Paul, MN.
The Business Committee for the Arts, Inc. (BCA) was founded in 1967 by David Rockefeller to bring business and the arts together. Since then, business support to the arts has grown from $22 million in 1967 to $3.31 billion in 2006. BCA's mission is to ensure that the arts flourish in America by encouraging, inspiring and stimulating business to support the arts in the workplace, in education and in the community.
Music Rising was developed in November 2005 in response to Hurricane Katrina to aid musicians of the Gulf Region. Created by U2's The Edge, Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz and producer Bob Ezrin, Music Rising has become the symbol of rebuilding and renewal throughout the U.S. and has played an instrumental part in restoring the spirit and musical heritage so important to this country.
Phase I of the Music Rising campaign focused on replacing lost or destroyed instruments for professional musicians so that they could regain their livelihood - and with support from Guitar Center Music Foundation and MusiCares, more than 2,400 musicians were assisted. Currently in Phase II and partnering with the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation and All Congregations Together (ACT), Music Rising continues to concentrate on rebuilding the music programs in Gulf Coast's schools and churches. To date, more than 32,000 students and parishioners have benefited from these efforts.
The Music Rising program was the recipient of the 2006 Billboard Humanitarian Award and the 2005 Gold Cause Marketing Halo Award. It has received two generous grants from the Bush Clinton Katrina Fund and support from hundreds of concerned and caring individuals and organizations, corporations, private businesses and schools from around the world. Music Rising will host the 2nd Annual "Icons of Music Auction" in New York in the Spring of 2008. 
Supporters can purchase Music Rising T-shirts through U2.com or at paricipating Hard Rock Cafes throughout the world., and a very limited edition Music Rising Epiphone guitar via Musician's Friend with artwork designed by U2's The Edge specifically for the campaign. The guitar is available for purchase at $599.00 with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Music Rising programs.
Purchase an Epiphone Limited Edition Music Rising Les Paul here!
In addition to the co-founders partners of Music Rising have included MTV, Real Networks, VH-1, ABC News Now, The NFL, Rolling Stone Magazine, Ticketmaster, Live Nation, Kennedy/Marshall, Former President Bill Clinton, Hard Rock International, Juliens Auctions, MusiCares, Guitar Center, Musician's Friend, Mr. Holland's Opus, The Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, ACT, Toyota, the NFL and the NBA. Former President Bill Clinton has also participated in various press coverage and presentations.
Cash donations may be made on line or by sending a check to:
Music Rising/Gibson Foundation
309 Plus Park Blvd
Nashville, TN 37217
100% of all donations go directly to supporting Music Rising programs.
Music Rising is a Gibson Foundation initiative.