BG Singers collecting instruments for Manilow Music Project

The Buffalo Grove Park District’s BG Singers are currently collecting new or gently used musical instruments and monetary donations to support the Manilow Music Project.

Founded by Barry Manilow, the charity provides musical instruments to schools where music programs have been cut due to lack of funding.

“I heard about the Manilow Project on Barry Manilow’s recent visit to Chicago,” said BG Singers Community Outreach coordinator Cathy Novak.

“Music has been so very important in my life and the lives of all of my family and friends. I knew that the BG Singers would want to get involved to help bring music and music education into the lives of children.”

To date, the BG Singers have donated six instruments and collected $1,500 to purchase 15 more instruments to be distributed to schools in Chicago, and they are now looking to the local community to further help support this project.

From now until the end of the year, instruments and monetary donations can be dropped off during office hours at the Buffalo Grove Park District’s Alcott Center, 530 Bernard Drive, Buffalo Grove, or at the Buffalo Grove village hall, 50 Raupp Blvd., in Buffalo Grove.

Donations will also be accepted at the BG Singers’ 20th anniversary concert, “Platinum,” at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 8 and 3 p.m. Sept. 9 at Stevenson High School.

For those wishing to make a monetary donation, checks should be made out to Friends of the Park Foundation. The money will be used to purchase more instruments to contribute to the project.

For information about the Manilow Music Project, contact Cathy Novak at cathysings2211@aol.com or (847) 769-8533.

For more information about the BG Singers, contact Lindsay Grandt (847) 850-2132 or lgrandt@bgparks.org.