Daily News (Bowling Green, KY)

Instrumental in success
Foundation donates instruments
Courtney Craig, ccraig@bgdailynews.com -- 270-783-3243
 Published: August 18, 2004
Giving needy students the gift of music is the way Son Rhea Foundation does community service. That's why representatives from the organization met with band directors from the four local high schools Monday to distribute instruments, which they bought using funds raised during music festivals and other events. Some instruments were also donated from members of the community.

"It's great," said Kevin Briley, band director for Bowling Green High School. "We always have kids that can't afford instruments." In addition to instruments, the Son Rhea Foundation provides cash and art supplies to local schools. Tony Lindsey, the organization's founder, said it has raised more than $50,000 over the four years it has been in existence.

"For children that can't afford to rent or buy an instrument, this gives them a direction and keeps them from falling through the cracks, hopefully," Lindsey said. In addition to Briley, others receiving instruments Monday afternoon included band directors David Dayton of Warren East High School, David Graham of Warren Central and Brian Morrison of Greenwood. Jeanette Rayles, president of the Bowling Green Chamber Orchestra, was also present.

The most common instrument in the pile was the clarinet, but the band directors aren't picky about what they get. They take turns picking the instruments they need most. "Whatever people want to donate, we'll take it," Graham said.

The instruments distributed Monday were bought using money raised through Helping Hands, a fund-raising drive that involved WBKO, Leachman Motors and Greenwood Hospital. The instruments were refurbished by Royal Music, meaning they were ready to be played when the band directors got them. "They're already fixed; that's the best part," Briley said.

David Dorris, a member of Son Rhea's board of directors, said the organization times the distribution of the instruments to coincide with school starting. Most of the instruments will go to elementary and middle school students who are just learning how to play, but the high school directors get first crack at the instruments. The ones they don't use will be passed down to younger band students.

"It feels good," Dorris said. "But this is only one thing we do." The Son Rhea Foundation holds several festivals a year to raise money for music and arts in southcentral Kentucky. The upcoming Son Rhea Music Festival, which will be held during Labor Day weekend, will feature more than 20 bands providing three days of live rock and blues music. The festival will be at KOA Campgrounds on Three Springs Road.

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