John Mayer To Headline VH1 Save The Music Foundation's 10th Anniversary Celebration Honoring Foundation Founder John Sykes and NAMM: The International Music Products Association

NEW YORK, March 20 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 20th, the VH1 Save The Music Foundation will mark ten years of restoring music education programs in more than 1,400 of our nation's public schools with a gala celebration at Lincoln Center in New York City. The event will honor VH1 Save The Music founder John Sykes as well as NAMM, The International Music Products Association, and will feature a performance by John Mayer along with a live auction emceed by Project Runway's Tim Gunn. In addition, a group of students from VH1 Save The Music grant recipient schools across the country will play together for the first time as a 50-student orchestra, demonstrating the impact of the VH1 Save The Music Foundation. Event co-chairs include Tom Calderone, Christina Norman, Ray Chambers and Ron Perelman.

During the elaborate 10th anniversary celebration, the organization will pay tribute to John Sykes, founder of the VH1 Save The Music Foundation and current Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, in recognition of his hard work and continued dedication to the cause. The VH1 Save The Music Foundation will also recognize NAMM, an organization that has supported the work of the VH1 Save The Music Foundation since The Foundation's inception in 1997 by encouraging their members to work closely with The Foundation to deliver new instruments in local communities. Recently, the VH1 Save The Music Foundation paired with NAMM to donate $200,000 worth of new musical instruments to public schools that were affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

"I am delighted to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of The VH1 Save The Music Foundation, honoring our founder John Sykes and NAMM and featuring a performance from our good friend and longtime supporter John Mayer. Over the past ten years, The Foundation has taken the lead in restoring and maintaining instrumental music education in America's public schools and raising awareness about the importance of music as a part of a child's complete education," says Paul Cothran, Executive Director of The VH1 Save The Music Foundation.

The evening's highlights will include a headlining performance by Grammy Award winner John Mayer, who can also be seen in one of The Foundation's newest public service announcements. Tim Gunn of Project Runway will be on hand to emcee a live auction, which will feature one-of-a-kind items and experiences from VH1 Save The Music Foundation partners. Additional honorees, participants and attendees will be announced in the coming months.

About VH1 Save The Music Foundation

Since 1997, the VH1 Save The Music Foundation has successfully restored and sustained instrumental music programs in 1,400 public schools in 80 communities across the country, including Memphis, Houston, Chicago, New York, Denver, Baltimore and Milwaukee. Over the past ten years, various artists and celebrities have shown their devotion to the VH1 Save The Music Foundation by partnering with the organization as they've reached out to struggling school districts across the country. Celebrities including Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Sting, Billy Joel, Kiefer Sutherland, John Legend, Rob Thomas, Alicia Keys, and Jewel have donated their time and efforts to the organization in attempts to raise awareness about the importance of music in a child's education.

To date, The Foundation has provided more than $34 million in new musical instruments, affecting the lives of more than 800,000 children. For more information on the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, please visit http://www.vh1.com/partners/save_the_music/ .

  CONTACT:

  Elizabeth Rosenthal
  Susan Blond, Inc.
  Phone: (212) 333-7728 x105
  erosenthal@susanblondinc.com

  Maura Wozniak
  VH1
  Phone: (212) 846-7325