The Guitar Center Music Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on granting instruments and other musician services to various music education non-profit organizations, announces the appointment of industry veteran David A. Helfant as Chairman of the Board for the Foundation. The announcement was made by the Foundation’s Board of Directors and reflects the organization’s goal of growing its charitable initiatives. As both legal counsel and an executive, Helfant has been a part of some of the most powerful entities in music, film, television and beyond. His experience representing record producers, recording artists and record and publishing companies – together with his specialized expertise in counseling major motion picture studios and television, film and video production companies – has enabled him to lead, direct and counsel a wide variety of corporations, artists and above-the-line talent in their transactional and new media needs. His involvement with charitable causes has had a consistent presence in his career, including work on the Board of Governors for the Society of Singers, which put on The Ella Award annually, as well as on the Board of Governors for the Los Angeles Chapter of The Recording Academy, the Board of the Children’s Hospital L.A. Inaugural Sports & Entertainment Leadership Council and the Board of the Southwestern Law School Alumni Association.
Helfant’s rich history in the entertainment industry and philanthropic experience will help him reach more individuals on behalf of the Guitar Center Music Foundation, to join their efforts to support even more music education programs across the country.
“I am pleased to join the team of the Guitar Center Music Foundation. Guitar Center is one of the most recognizable brands in both retail and the music industry, and drawing on that prominence, we have the opportunity to make a difference on a large scale with the Foundation and its amazing initiatives. I look forward to working toward these goals together with the rest of the professionals and Board Members on behalf of the Guitar Center Music Foundation,” said Helfant.
The Guitar Center Music Foundation’s mission is to offer as many individuals as possible the invaluable experience of learning and playing a musical instrument. Since its original founding in 2005, the foundation‘s charitable efforts have put instruments in the hands of over 300,000 persons nationwide during its rich history of supporting musicians through music education, music therapy programs and other music-centric non-profits. Recent activities have included instrument grants to 14 youth programs providing services such as lessons on instruments, music production, voice and performance. Two programs are taking place within the “Philadelphia Free Library System”, providing incentives for participants to enjoy the benefits of both music lessons and access to other educational resources.
“David’s history in the nonprofit world is a real asset for our organization,” stated Lynn Robison, Executive Director of Guitar Center Foundation. “We are on a path of growth in the scope and the range of our charitable activities, and we look forward to all that David can help contribute.”
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