Timbaland, Gentlemen's Fund to Support Music Education through MENC

Gentlemen’s Quarterly (GQ) magazine announced that MENC is one of five charitable organizations chosen as recipients of the 2008 Gentlemen's Fund initiative. The Gentlemen’s Fund raises support and awareness in the areas of education, opportunity, health, environment, and mentorship. MENC was selected to represent the education pillar in association with Hewlett Packard (HP) and musical artist/producer Timbaland.

On May 22,  “Gentlemen’s Fund Ambassador” Timbaland appeared at Salem High School in Virginia Beach, VA to announce his support. MENC members Donald Krudop, Frank Garcia, Simon Garza, Roeboyd Middleton, and Natalia Kuznetsova were in attendance as Timbaland, originally from the Virginia Tidewater area, interacted with the students.

“The day we spent with Timbaland, GQ, and HP was incredible. The day benefited the school, the students, and the entertainers/businesses. It was a wonderful merging of all of these dynamics,” said Eva K. Roupas, director of the Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Salem High School. “I sometimes worry about exposing students to people in the entertainment industry because one never knows how the students will be treated or what messages are shared. Timbaland was outstanding. He provided excellent insights, and his candor and honesty impressed our students immensely. They couldn’t get enough.”

The Gentlemen’s Fund 2008 initiative Web site launched June 16. Watch for additional stories about Timbaland’s Salem High School visit and other Gentlemen’s Fund coverage on the MENC News Stand and in upcoming issues of Teaching Music.

--Elizabeth Lasko, June 16, 2008. © MENC: The National Association for Music Education (www.menc.org)