The Aspire to Inspire Initiative

Summer 2008 marked the 9th year of the collaborative partnership between The ASCAP Foundation and The Fresh Air Fund, a nonprofit organization that operates five summer camps in Fishkill, New York. Thanks to The ASCAP Foundation Fresh Air Fund Summer Guitar Project, over 400 inner-city children received guitar lessons at the camps this year. The project was also expanded to include a guitar giveaway program: The ASCAP Foundation Aspire to Inspire Guitar Initiative, spearheaded by ASCAP member Catie Curtis.

On September 9, the street date of her new release Sweet Life (Compass Records), Curtis gave away fifteen guitars to children who participated in the Summer Guitar Project at the Fresh Air Fund Camps. Curtis understands how the gift of an instrument can forever change a young person's life. When she was 15 years old, growing up in a small town in southern Maine, Curtis was given a guitar with the catch being that she had to learn how to play it. Now, in the midst of a musical career that has seen her travel all across the U.S. and Europe and release nine studio albums, Curtis has a desire to give the same gift she once received. She has established the Catie Curtis Aspire To Inspire Endowment so that guitars can be given to budding young musicians and songwriters who can't afford to buy their own.

"My passion is to put guitars in the hands of aspiring young musicians as an unexpected gift, to convey the confidence that comesfrom someone believing in them. They can use it as a vehicle to create a life for themselves, if they so choose," Curtis said.

The young recipients were selected by their guitar teachers based on talent and passion for music. We would like to thank this year's guitar instructors: Helen Avakian, Jeff Entin, Mike Labriola, Andrew Lipow and Linda Richards for their time and dedication.

The ASCAP Foundation Fresh Air Fund Summer Guitar Project is funded through The ASCAP Foundation Irving Caesar Fund. The ASCAP Foundation Aspire to Inspire Guitar Initiative is made possible through a private donation. To learn more about Catie Curtis and her new CD, Sweet Life , go to The ASCAP Action Network at www.ascap.com/network/audioportraits/catie_curtis_sweet.