HONOLULU — Servco Pacific, a co-majority owner of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, continued its $1.5 million Centennial Service Campaign with a donation of musical instruments and services valued at nearly $500,000 to 55 public schools across Hawaii.
The donation of 2,000 Fender ukuleles, 750 Fender acoustic guitars, soft cases, and one-year subscriptions to Fender Play will benefit over 8,500 students.
Kauai will receive 110 ukuleles and 37 guitars.
“Music education is crucial for the creative engagement of our haumana, which positively impacts learning across content areas,” said Dr. Christina Kishimoto, superintendent of the state Department of Education.
“Mahalo to Servco for their generous donation that will help to provide students with an outlet for artistic expression. Now even more current and future students will be able to explore and pursue their passion or curiosity for music,” Kishimoto said.
“We know there’s a strong correlation between arts education and improved literacy skills in the classroom,” said Mark Fukunaga, chairman and CEO of Servco Pacific and co-chairman of Fender.
”We hope these resources will allow our teachers to use the arts as another tool to build a better academic and social future for our students,” said Fukunaga. “We also hope to inspire a life-long love of music, and that students will continue to play well into the future.”
Earlier in the year, Servco worked with DOE to invite all public and charter schools to apply to receive musical instruments, with the primary requirement that the schools designate a teacher to implement and sustain a music curriculum during or after school. Servco and the Fender Play Foundation fulfilled 100% of the requests that were received.
Ukulele and acoustic guitar donations by island:
• Kauai: 110 ukuleles and 37 guitars;
• Oahu: 1,079 ukuleles and 362 guitars;
• Maui: 140 ukuleles and 41 guitars;
• Molokai: 190 ukuleles and 90 guitars;
• Hawaii Island: 481 ukuleles and 220 guitars.
Servco Pacific and the Fender Play Foundation launched the musical-instrument-donation program on Oahu with a series of surprise concerts from Na Hoku Hanohano award-winning music duo Ben & Maila at three schools across Oahu. Nanakuli Elementary, Campbell High and Farrington High school students and teachers enjoyed pop-up shows and instrument deliveries throughout the school day.
“It was incredible to see the excitement on the students’ faces,” said Lisa Higa, Nanakuli Elementary School principal. “What a great way to start the new school year, with brand new instruments and music resources.”
