MENC: The National Association for Music Education and Potbelly Sandwich Works Make Beautiful Music Together

Partnership to Benefit Music Education Nationally and Locally

RESTON, VA (PRWEB) January 1, 2004 --MENC: The National Association for Music Education announced a partnership between its MusicFriends program and Potbelly Sandwich Works, a growing national chain restaurant serving oven-baked sandwiches, milkshakes, and homemade cookies, in an effort to support music education.

Potbelly and WHFS, Marylands leading alternative rock station, recently orchestrated a contest to search for the most talented independent musicians, singers, and songwriters in the D.C. and Baltimore areas for the first-ever Potbelly CD. All proceeds from the sales of the CD will be donated to MusicFriends, MENCs advocacy program for parents and community supporters of music education.

Potbelly has always been committed to music. Since the beginning, local musicians have played a big role in the Potbelly experience," said Bryant Keil, CEO, Potbelly Sandwich Works. Were excited to give local independent musicians the chance to really be heard. Through our support with MusicFriends we hope to bring the benefits of music education to life and encourage a new generation of musicians."

In addition, Potbelly recently conducted Free Day" promotions at store openings in Annapolis, Maryland, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Customers received free lunches in exchange for donations to support music education. Proceeds from the Free Day went to the Maryland Music Educators Association and to the Wisconsin Music Educators Association. According to Potbelly, $1,046.06 was raised to go towards supporting local music education.

In Wisconsin, the money raised benefits the Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) High School State Honors Music Project. Honors tuition grant donations enable recipients to work with other gifted students from Wisconsin, while under the leadership of nationally known conductors. Recently, an Honors student wrote Potbelly, Thank you for your generous donation. It helped make my participation in this years WSMA Honors Mixed Choir possible." Another Honors student wrote, Because of your donation, I am inspired to work hard towards my goals because I know there are people like you who support the arts, especially for young musicians like myself."

The proceeds from the Maryland Potbelly Free Day" will go toward the In Service Music Educators Conference. The MMEA (Maryland Music Educators Association) presents a two-day In Service Conference every winter with in-depth, hands-on sessions for teacher development. The donation will assist in hiring substitute teachers to allow for professional leave for music teachers.    

Support from corporate partners like Potbelly make a big difference to music education, and were very grateful, said John J. Mahlmann, MENC executive director. The funds donated to MusicFriends will assist MENC in our efforts to expand that program to communities nationwide and to provide resources to supporters of music. Potbellys gifts to our state affiliates will help qualified students and teachers attend all-state festivals and in-service conferences."

For more information, call MENC at 1-800-336-3768, or visit www.menc.org.

For more information on Potbelly, visit www.potbelly.com.

MENC: The National Association for Music Education, the worlds largest arts education organization, is the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. More than 100,000 members represent all levels of teaching from preschool to graduate school. Since 1907, MENC has worked to ensure that every student has access to a well-balanced, comprehensive, and high-quality program of music instruction taught by qualified teachers. MENCs activities and resources have been largely responsible for the establishment of music education as a profession, for the promotion and guidance of music study as an integral part of the school curriculum, and for the development of the National Standards for Arts Education.

Potbelly Sandwich Works, a unique, old-fashioned sandwich joint, has been serving up local charm, live music and wonderful food since 1977. Each store offers toasty warm sandwiches, hand-dipped milkshakes and homemade cookies in a warm, inviting atmosphere at a reasonable price. The rapidly expanding Potbelly has extended the cult-like status of its first store to 40 restaurants in six states plus the Washington D.C. area.

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