Music Matters Names First Award Recipient

For Immediate Release:  September 19, 2014
Contact:  Amanda Scurry, 517-256-2734, amanjohn@hotmail.com
Amy Miller, 812-760-1575, aedmiller@gmail.com
Sr. Karlene Sensmeier, 812-425-4596, ksensmeier@evdio.org
Susan Sublett, 812-897-2030, susan@warrickcommunityfoundation.org

The first award from the Isaac Miller Music Matters Endowment Fund will be presented to St. Benedict Cathedral School on Monday, September 22 at 2 p.m.

The fund was established by Matt and Amy Miller of Evansville to promote music education and music therapy programs in the Evansville area. St. Ben’s will use the $800 award in its elementary school’s music program. 

The Millers of Evansville established the endowment in 2012 in memory of their son Isaac who was diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma on November 4, 2010 at the young age of three.  After 18 months of battling cancer, Isaac found his cure in heaven.  The fund is managed by the Warrick County Community Foundation. 

“We decided to grant the first gift from the endowment to St. Ben’s because Isaac would currently be in first grade there,” said the Millers.  “The school was so supportive of us when Isaac was in treatment and after he passed away.  We are so pleased that Isaac will continue to have a connection with his school through this gift, even though he isn't able to be a student there.”

The Millers, with the help of family members and friends, organize the annual Isaac’s Day of Music to raise money to build the endowment fund in order to provide financial support to benefit more children each year.  This year’s family-friendly event will be held on November 9 from 1-5 p.m. at First Christian Church in Newburgh. 

The event will include an afternoon of performances by local vocal and instrumental music groups, dance groups and storytellers.  The day will also include a parent/child music demonstration by Music Together®, inflatables, craft and activity tables sponsored by local organizations, food sales and a silent auction. 

Admission is $5 per person, ages 2 and under are free.  All proceeds from the event will go directly to the Isaac Miller Music Matters Endowment Fund.

“Throughout his life, we saw the impact music had on Isaac, whether he was using music to express his feelings, interact with other children, or just be a ‘regular kid,’ even for a brief moment,” the Millers said when asked why they started the music endowment.  “Every child should have the opportunity to experience music in the same way and we started this fund to give them that chance.”

For more information contact:  www.musicmattersfund.blogspot.com, 812-760-1575 or musicmattersfund@gmail.com.