ADOPT THE ARTS:
BENEFIT CONCERT AND AUCTION FOR MUSIC AND ARTS
PROGRAMS IN LAUSD SCHOOLS
SET FOR THURSDAY, MAY 12
AT THE FONDA THEATRE IN HOLLYWOOD
 
MUSIC LUMINARIES CONFIRMED TO HONOR AND PERFORM WITH
2016 ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
GLENN HUGHES & ROBIN ZANDER
RED CARPET (6:00 PM), CONCERT BEGINS (7:30 PM) 

ADOPT THE ARTS will launch a live benefit concert and live auction for LAUSD elementary schools on Thursday, May 12 at The Fonda Theatre (6126 Hollywood Boulevard) in Los Angeles (red carpet 6:00-7:15PM, show starts: 7:30PM). Music luminaries will gather to perform with and honor 2016 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees GLENN HUGHES (Deep Purple) and ROBIN ZANDER (Cheap Trick) for their contributions to American art and culture.
 
"I'm extremely honored to be accepting an award from such an admirable charity, Adopt the Arts," explains GLENN HUGHES. "Matt Sorum has gone to great lengths to help create a program for children to have musical instruments in their lives and in turn to provide love and harmony in our lives. I'm humbled and grateful. See you at the event at the Henry Fonda Theatre in Hollywood on Thursday, May 12. I'm really looking forward to performing for you all, let's make it a magical night."
 
"All of my career I've been involved in promoting the arts in elementary schools and I'm proud to be part of Adopt the Arts Honors," adds ROBIN ZANDER. My thanks  goes out to the foundation and I hope that fans everywhere will come and join us for a successful evening of fun, music and fundraising. See you there."
 
Artists confirmed to perform include ADOPT THE ARTS founder MATT SORUM (Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver, Hollywood Vampires) along with GEEZER BUTLER (Black Sabbath), STEVE JONES (Sex Pistols),  COREY TAYLOR (Slipknot), GILBY CLARKE (Guns N' Roses), BILLY DUFFY (The Cult), DEAN DELEO & ROBERT DELEO (Stone Temple Pilots), STEVE LUKATHER (Toto), CHAD SMITH (Red Hot Chili Peppers), FRANKY PEREZ (Apocalyptica), STEVIE SALAS (Mick Jagger), PAUL III (Tina Turner, Disreputable Few), DAMON FOX (Big Elf and The Cult,) and DJ MORTY COYLE.
 
Comedian HAL SPARKS will also be a part of the night's festivities, as well as a live auction will feature multiple items from: 

Proceeds from the concert and auction will be donated to ADOPT THE ARTS music programs in LAUSD elementary schools (see VIP ticket/donation below). Tickets are on-sale now at http://www.axs.com/events/308980/glenn-huges-robin-zander-tickets?skin=thefonda.

ADOPT THE ARTS: Benefit Concert and Auction:

5:30pm
Media check-in, set up on red carpet.
6:00pm
Red carpet begins in front of The Fonda Theatre.
7:15pm
Red carpet ends.
7:30pm
ADOPT THE ARTS concert begins.
 
 
ADOPT THE ARTS (adoptthearts.org)--a Los Angeles-based charity co-founded by musician Matt Sorum and activist Abby Berman, and actively supported by artists like actress Jane Lynch (founding board member)--works to preserve arts programs in U.S. public schools.  To raise awareness, ADOPT THE ARTS honors individuals who've had a long-lasting impact on music culture and who inspire young musicians to follow in their footsteps. The ADOPT THE ARTS advisory board includes: SLASH, JOHN STAMOS, BILLY BOB THORTON, STEVE STEVENS, JULIETTE LEWIS, DANNY MASTERSON, SHEPARD FAIREY, ADRIAN YOUNG and GINA GERSHON.
 
According to Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), there are still not enough teachers, equipment or instruments for every child to receive an arts education of any kind.  As in many school districts around the country, LAUSD has been slowly eroding its commitment to arts education, reducing the budget incrementally.  The LAUSD district also estimates that 80% of its student body is living at or below the poverty line, which means the vast majority of these elementary school children will not have access to the arts outside of school.
 
"Adopt the Arts was born out of the frustration for my own children losing education in the arts," explains ADOPT THE ARTS co-founder Abby Berman. "When the system is failing, we have to take action.  With influential people like my co-founder Matt Sorum adopting schools, we can preserve this valuable component to childhood development, which is also known to boost test scores.  Because Federal and State funding is falling short, the responsibility is upon us as concerned parents and citizens to ensure we're raising a new generation of healthy and well-rounded individuals."
 
ADOPT THE ARTS Chair and Co-founder Matt Sorum adds, "We're starting in our own backyard here in Los Angeles, and we'll continue to adopt schools across the nation.  We believe that music and art are universal and necessary languages that unite us all, regardless of our backgrounds."
 
Ticket prices for the ADOPT THE ARTS event are below and all donations are tax deductible:
 
1)   General: $40 (standing room only)
2)   General: $75 (seated)
3)   VIP Tickets: $275, VIP Table for 10: $2,500
4)   Meet and Greet VIP Tickets: $500
5)   Meet and Greet VIP Table for 10: $4,500
 
Tickets are on-sale now and can be purchased at http://adoptthearts.org and http://www.axs.com/events/308980/glenn-huges-robin-zander-tickets?skin=thefonda.