Vintage

Don't forget to purchase your tickets for a chance to win an official, one-of-a-kind NASCAR racing helmet signed by 42 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers to benefit KEYS kids!

Autographed NASCAR Helmet Raffle Ticket Order Form (adobe pdf file)

Raffle Rules and Disclaimer (adobe pdf file)

Charlotte, NC  --On June 12th, 2009, KEYS was proud to present the Charles Blair Commitment to Children award to the Hendrick Foundation for Children in recognition for all they do for KEYS kids. Past winners of this award, include; the Tony Stewart Foundation, United Cerebral Palsy, and several other businesses and organizations who are dedicated to helping children in need.

KEYS was founded by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Official David Bennett and his wife Colleen, in memory of Colleen’s father, who passed away from cancer at the age of 53. Music therapy had such a positive effect on her father’s quality of life during his battle, they decided to create KEYS in order to help children who were facing the same difficult battle, in memory of her father. Colleen and David’s dream has been to teach parents and medical staff the true power of music and provide them the tools they need so all children with cancer may enjoy the benefits of music as part of their treatment, recovery or journey.  That dream is now a reality through Dawn’s Song and the many wonderful people who have helped make this dream a reality along the way, like the Hendrick Foundation for Children.

Thanks to the Hendrick Foundation for Children’s support, KEYS was recently able to give away more than 50 special Dawn’s Song gift packets to the children at the Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital. The KEYS staff also presented a special workshop for medical staff in the Pediatric and Pediatric ICU departments, teaching the benefits of music therapy and providing therapeutic musical activities they can use to help the children they care for through their battle a little easier. This year, the award was renamed the Charles Blair Commitment to Children Award in honor of Colleen’s father.

Greenville, SC -- Colleen Bennett, founder of the KEYS Program, presented the organization's prestigious Keep the Beat 2009 Music Advocacy Award to Tracy Leenman, CEO of Greenville's recently-formed Musical Innovations. The award was presented Friday, June 12th, at Musical Innovations' new location, 150-G Tanner Road at Butler, in Greenville.

Leenman, a Greer resident, has served as the Chairman of the South Carolina Coalition for Music Education since 1997. She is currently South Carolina's representative to the SupportMusic.com Coalition, and has served as the state's liaison to the Vh-1 "Save the Music Foundation." Earlier this year, she received the SCMEA Friend of Music Business Award at the South Carolina Music Educators Conference annual In-Service Convention; this award is given annually to thank, honor and recognize a member of the business community who has shown exemplary support for local music education programs. In 2006, she received the Phi Beta Mu (Theta Chapter) Outstanding Contributor award.

Nominating Mrs. Leenman for this award was Linda Phipps, a second-grade teacher and parent of two band students. In her letter to the KEYS Program Awards Committee, Phipps writes, "For fifteen years, Tracy has worked to support school music programs in South Carolina. She is known around our area as the state's music advocacy resource. Tracy travels around the state working with music teachers, future music teachers (colleges) and music students and their families. She has helped and encouraged my two daughters since she did their mouthpiece testing in 6th grade; even traveling over 100 miles to accompany them at Solo & Ensemble Festival each year. Now they are 8th and 10th graders, and my eldest is considering majoring in music education. As one of my children's band directors says, 'Mrs. Leenman's continued generosity and musical contributions have been extremely helpful to the success of our school's band program and to the musical growth of our students.'”

Musical Innovations, which Leenman formed in 2008, provides musical products and services to music educators, music students, and their families, in addition to providing in-service clinics and workshops to educators, administrators and community groups. Musical Innovations will be particpating in KEYS' "Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve" project where the public can make a donation to benefit KEYS kids and receive a heart sticker to wear proudly on their sleeve. Heart stickers will be available at Musical Innovations beginning at the June 12th event.

Boonville, NY In just two years teaching at Adirondack Middle School, music teacher Sarah Stedman, has made a big impact on her students.  Nominated by students, Shannon and Shawna Lee, Ms. Stedman has been credited with “making music class fun”.  Her energy, enthusiasm and support of her students reaches far beyond the classroom, with Ms. Stedman cheering on students at swim meets with signs and banners, and even a trip the ice cream stand to celebrate a win!

“Thanks for your kindness and generosity for your award of the KEYS Keep the Beat! Music Teacher of the Year award” said Stedman. “As I told Shannon and Shawna Lee, the nomination itself was indeed an overwhelming compliment. The award is icing on the cake!”

KEYS hosts its annual Music Teacher of the Year awards each spring in order to raise awareness of the benefits of music and to recognize outstanding music teachers who are making a difference in the lives of their students.  More than 30 teachers from Michigan, South Carolina, Virginia and New York State were nominated for this year’s prestigious award.

The prestigious award was presented with resounding applause from students and families attending the Adirondack Middle School concert on June 3rd, 2009. Presenting a trophy and gift certificate for music merchandise for the school from Big Apple Music were students Shannon and Shawna Lee, and KEYS Executive Director & Founder Colleen Bennett.