Who knew that a movie released 29 years ago would change the lives of hundreds of thousands of kids by giving them the opportunity to learn and play music in school?

Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation was inspired by the acclaimed motion picture of the same name, based on the true story of the impact a dedicated music teacher had on generations of students. Composer Michael Kamen, who wrote the score for the film, started the foundation in 1996 as his commitment to the future of music education.

The Foundation keeps music alive in our schools by donating high-quality instruments to deserving, under-funded music programs, and provides an array of support services to school districts. By increasing the school’s supply of quality instruments, music teachers are able to deliver a quality music education to students who want to learn.

CEO Tricia Williams joined the nonprofit nearly 25 years ago when she supervised all aspects of the program including the donation of musical instruments to schools, Music Rising and Holland’s Heroes, a group of dedicated music and arts directors representing school districts across the nation.

Click here to learn more about Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation: https://mhopus.org/

Original air date: September 12, 2024.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.